Third Grade Curriculum Overview

‘Tis the season...for new and exciting learning in the Dallin third grade! This fall, third graders have been engaged in many interesting projects across the subject areas. In English Language Arts, students are underway with a unit on the realistic fiction genre. We are learning the characteristics of the genre and studying elements of fiction including plot, theme, conflict, and setting. We are crafting readers’ responses to books, incorporating textual evidence to support our ideas. We’re looking forward to upcoming literacy units on nonfiction texts and historical fiction. Roses are red, violets are blue, this spring we’ll be studying poetry, too!

Third graders have been working hard to create wonderful writing pieces this year. At the end of each of our writing units, you’re invited to come read students’ phenomenal work in a writers’ celebration. Recently, students published fantastic narrative stories. Students thought back to a moment in their lives and captured it through a personal memoir. They made the memory come to life with sensory details, dialogue, and descriptive verbs. Next up, students are creating informational books on a topic of their choosing. Topics range from a cat owner’s guide to a profile of baseball superstars. We are excited to share our expert knowledge with you through our informational writing!

In the third grade math workshop, an emphasis is placed on strategic thinking and effective communication. In the fall, students worked on developing strategies for multi-digit addition and subtraction. Ask a third grader to show you their favorite method for solving an addition problem! Currently, students are studying multiplication and division. We’re building our study habits and finding fun games to memorize our multiplication facts. By the end of the year, we hope to learn all of our multiplication facts within 100. We are excited to gain new skills through upcoming units on fractions, area, and perimeter. Overarching goals of our third grade math curriculum include building students’ problem solving skills and perseverance.

Did you know that the Earth is like a giant magnet? That’s just one of the facts that we discovered in our science unit on motion and matter. Students studied forces through investigations with magnets. They also studied patterns of motion and delved into Newton’s Laws of Motion. Third grade scientists engaged in an engineering design challenge to build the best cart or paper airplane that would travel the farthest distance. Through hands-on experimentation and data collection, third graders are gaining an authentic experience with science and engineering disciplines.

In social studies, third grade historians have traveled back in time to study the life of the Wampanoag tribe in the seventeenth century. We went on an exciting field trip to Plimoth Plantation where we witnessed what life was like for the Wampanoag in the 1600s. Students conducted a guided research project in which they gathered information about the seasonal life of the tribe. Students applied their research to create beautiful murals depicting the Wampanoag during different points of the year. Earlier in the fall, we conducted a mock election in social studies. Students nominated book characters who embodied presidential traits as candidates for class president. They launched campaigns and wrote speeches in which they passionately defended their preferred candidate. This was a great opportunity for students to practice civic engagement and learn about the structure of our democracy. We look forward to upcoming social studies units on the Pilgrims and the American Revolution.

This year, the Dallin third grade introduced a new homework system. The primary purpose of our third grade home practice is to develop students lives as readers. At home and in school this fall, Dallin third graders have been working on building their independent reading stamina. Students are doing a great job building their stamina and setting new records for number of minutes spent reading. Each month, students are also given a menu filled with optional activities for academic enrichment. You can come check out some of students great work so far in the “Home Practice Hall of Fame,” located in the third grade hallway. We can’t wait to share these projects with you, and all of the other fantastic work being done by our Dallin third graders!

Classroom Update: December 9, 2016

Today was our student teacher Ms. Stanizzi's last day with us. We valued her time in our classroom and wish her the best of luck in the future! ☺

Below is an overview of what we worked on in school this week...

In social studies, we wrapped up our unit on the Wampanoag tribe. Students made flipbooks to record facts that they had learned about the characteristics of Wampanoag life in the seventeenth century.

In writing, students put the finishing touches on their personal narrative stories. This week, we also began a unit on informational writing. We discussed the characteristics of the informational genre and began brainstorming topics.

In reading, we began guided reading groups for realistic fiction books. We made inferences about what characters were feeling based upon their words in the text. We wrote readers' responses incorporating textual evidence.

In math, we began memorizing our multiplication times tables. We are practicing different ways to learn our multiplication facts, like using flashcards, writing lists of multiples, playing games, quizzing each other, and using online programs. One website that we have used for studying our facts is Quizlet. Check it out below!

Classroom Update: November 18, 2016

We had another fabulous week in third grade! This week was our student teacher Ms. Stanizzi's "takeover week," meaning she took on the week's lessons as lead teacher.

We had a fabulous time on our trip to Plimoth Plantation on Monday! Big thanks to our chaperones who accompanied us for the day. At the plantation, students were transported to 17th Century New England. They saw what life would have been like for the Pilgrims and Wampanoag who lived in that time period. Later in the week, students began a research project to learn more about the life of the Wampanoag tribe in the 1600s. Students will be compiling their research to create murals depicting the Wampanoag during the four seasons of the year. 

In math, we are continuing to build our understanding of the concept of multiplication. This week, we looked at the multiples of the numbers 2-10. Students identified patterns among these multiples. For example, we observed that all multiples of 2 are even and that all multiples of 10 end in zero.

In English Language Arts, we are publishing a class collection of personal narrative stories. In reading, we began a genre study of realistic fiction. We are reading the book Amber Brown Is Not A Crayon and journaling responses in a readers' response notebook.

This month, the Dallin School is focusing on the social emotional competencies of Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self Control (C.A.R.E.S.). Our class launched a project to help students internalize these competencies. This week, we looked for examples of cooperation around the school. 

Classroom Update: November 10, 2016

We concluded our integrated social studies and reading unit on the election. This week, we staged a mock debate. Students spoke in the voice of our two candidates, Harry Potter and Tom Brady, to share their perspectives on questions posed by our moderator. When the time came for our final election, Harry Potter came out on top and was elected President of Room 227. Congratulations to President Potter and his supporters! 

In math, we practiced different strategies for solving multiplication problems. Some of our favorite strategies include drawing a picture and using addition. 

In science, we finished our engineering design challenge using paper airplanes. We found that the best paper airplane design was one that was compact and lightweight to offset gravitational forces. We had a lot of fun testing our airplane designs!

In preparation for our field trip to Plimoth Plantation next week, we have been learning about the Native American Wampanoag tribe. This week, we read about the seasonal life of the Wampanoag. I'm looking forward to our trip on Monday!

Classroom Update: November 4, 2016

We continued our integrated social studies and reading unit about the election this week. Students acted as speechwriters and wrote about why their preferred candidate would make a good president. Today, we delivered the speeches to the class, using public speaking techniques like slowing down, reading with expression, and making eye contact. 

In science, we conducted several experiments to test the best materials and design conditions for paper airplanes. We discovered that lighter paper is ideal for offsetting the effects of downward forces. We also explored how lift force is affected by the size of the wings on our planes. Today, we began an engineering design challenge in which teams are constructing plane models based upon what we have observed this week. 

In math, we started our study of multiplication. Before we begin memorizing basic multiplication facts, we are learning about the concept of multiplication. Students wrote and solved their own multiplication story problems. 

Classroom Update: October 29, 2016

This week was packed with lots of fun activities in Room 227!

We have begun an integrated reading and social studies unit on the election. We are using literary concepts and themes to understand the election process. Students nominated potential candidates to the "Informational" and "Narrative" political parties. Then, we narrowed down our field of candidates through a series of caucuses and primaries. Our final two candidates are Tom Brady (from Tom Brady: Football Superstar by Matt Scheff) and Harry Potter (from the Harry Potter series). We discussed how politicians use persuasive images and words to convince people to support them. We made campaign posters to persuade classmates and people around the school to vote for our preferred candidates.

In math this week, we practiced rounding numbers to the nearest ten and hundred. Our student teacher Ms. Stanizzi led a fun lesson where students "rounded up" balloon animals to the nearest benchmark number. We've now concluded our unit on rounding, addition, and subtraction; however, we'll continue to revisit these concepts throughout the year. Next up: multiplication!

In science, we are learning about patterns of motion. We are studying how objects move and the forces that act upon them. We made paper airplanes and drew force diagrams to describe all of the forces at work when a plane is in flight. We'll be engineering paper airplane designs to maximize the distance that they can travel.

Classroom Update: October 21, 2016

In Science, we are continuing our study of magnetism. This week, we did explorations of magnetic fields and forces. 

In Math, we continue to practice addition and subtraction strategies for three-digit numbers. This week, our focus was on communicating mathematical reasoning.Today we played a game of “Musical Math” to practice telling different partners how we solved a problem. Ask your child how he or she liked this activity!

In Writing, students continue to develop their personal narrative writing. Some students have begun typing their stories on iPads or desktops, building keyboarding skills. 

We have begun an integrated Social Studies and Reading mini-unit on the presidential election. This week, we read about the election process and students wrote about what they would do if they were in charge of the country. Next week, students will start staging a mock election campaign for literary characters. 

Classroom Update: October 14, 2016

We accomplished many things during this short week!

In Math, we continued to gain practice with addition and subtraction strategies. This week, we applied these strategies to three-digit numbers.

In Reading, we began writing reading responses. Writing about literature is a skill that we will be developing throughout the year.

We began a new Science unit on magnetism. Today we did some exploratory activities to learn about magnetic forces. 

And in Writing, students continued drafting their personal narrative stories. 

Have a great weekend!

Classroom Update: October 7, 2016

Below, you will find an update on our learning from the week. 

In Word Study, we practiced different ways to study this week's words. Each week, students are assigned a pair of homophones and a list of words that fit a particular spelling pattern. This week's homophones are "scene" and "seen," while the spelling pattern of the week is words ending in "ch." We completed a variety of activities to practice these words including...

...Building words with magnets....

....An activity called "Roll a Word"...

....The "Swatting Game"....

...And activities on the website Spelling City.

In Reading, we continue to build the skill of finding evidence. This week, we read a passage about Benjamin Franklin and looked for evidence to support the statement, "Benjamin Franklin had many talents." Ask your child about one of Franklin's many careers!

In Writing, our student teacher Ms. Stanizzi gave students strategies for writing effective beginnings to stories. Some of the strategies include asking a question, describing actions, using dialogue, or using a sound word. Students applied these strategies to their own narrative writing.

In Math, we introduced a new tool called Xtra Math. This is a website where students can practice their basic addition and subtraction facts. Later in the year, we will use it as a tool to memorize multiplication and division facts. Right now in math, we are working on refining and strengthening our strategies for solving addition and subtraction strategies.

Addition Strategies

Subtraction Strategies

In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our unit on local geography and map skills. We reviewed the facts that we learned this unit by playing a game of jeopardy today.

Classroom Update: October 7, 2016

Here's an update on our learning from this week. :)

In Word Study, we practiced different ways to study this week's words. Each week, students are assigned a pair of homophones and a list of words that fit a particular spelling pattern. This week's homophones are "scene" and "seen." This week's spelling pattern was words ending in "ch." We completed a variety of activities to practice these words including...

Building words with magnets....

An activity called "Roll a Word"...

The "Swatting Game"....

And activities on the website Spelling City.

In Reading, we continue to build the skill of finding evidence. This week, we read a passage about Benjamin Franklin and looked for evidence to support the statement "Benjamin Franklin had many talents." Ask your child about one of Franklin's many careers!

In Writing, our student teacher Ms. Stanizzi gave students strategies for writing effective beginnings to stories. Some of the strategies include asking a question, describing actions, using dialogue, or using a sound word. Students applied these strategies to their own narrative writing.

In Math, we introduced a new tool called Xtra Math. This is a website where students can practice their basic addition and subtraction facts. Later in the year, we will use it as a tool to memorize multiplication and division facts. Right now in math, we are working on refining and strengthening our strategies for solving addition and subtraction strategies.

Addition Strategies

Subtraction Strategies

In Social Studies, we are wrapping up our unit on local geography and map skills. We reviewed the facts that we learned this unit by playing a game of jeopardy today.

Classroom Update: October 3, 2016

It was so nice meeting many of you Thursday evening at Curriculum Night! Below, you will find updates on what we are studying across the curriculum. 

In social studies, we learned about Arlington landmarks including Old Schwamb Mill, the Robbins Library, the Jason Russell House, the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum, and the Minuteman Bikeway. Students chose one of these noteworthy places, and made a postcard telling interesting facts about it.

In reading, we continue to practice foundational reading skills including building independent reading stamina, finding textual evidence, and writing summaries. We are maintaining reading logs to keep track of the books that we are reading.

In math, we are practicing rounding to the nearest ten and hundred. We continue to strengthen our understandings of addition and subtraction strategies. This week, we introduced a new math tool called TenMarks. TenMarks is an engaging and motivating math program that incorporates all major third grade math topics.

In writing, students continue to draft their personal narrative pieces, incorporating the strategy of "showing, not telling." I'm enjoying reading each of their creative stories!