Curriculum Overview

      Mathematics- Math, Houghton Mifflin

• Data, Graphs, and Basic Facts of Addition and Subtraction (Sept./Oct.)

• Money, Time (Sept./Oct.)

• Multiplication Concepts and Facts (Begin September)

• Geometry (February)

• Fractions and Customary Linear Measurement (March-April)

• Decimals and Metric Linear Measurement (April-May)

• Problem Solving strategies to prepare students for the Fourth Grade Assessment.  A heavy emphasis is assessed on explaining mathematics in written form.  (Throughout the year)

Reading/ Language Arts- Trophies, Harcourt Press

• Whole class novel study including: Gooney Bird Greene, Chocolate Touch, Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family and Stone Fox.

•  Class Plays, Readers Theatre and Literature Circles

• The Quick-word Handbook for Everyday writer-Curriculum Associates

• Daily Oral Language-Great Source Pub.

• Poetry Unit

• Six Analytical Traits and The Writing Process

• Four-square writing

• Five Modes of Writing- Descriptive, Narrative, Imaginative, Expository, and Persuasive.

• Scholastic Reading Skills-focuses on comprehension, word skills, and phonics

Religion- Faith First, Resources for Christian Living. A developmental program based on Scripture and rooted in the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  While the content for Grade Three is God’s community, strands on Church, Sacraments, Trinity, and Morality are interwoven throughout the program.

•  Explaining God’s Word, Liguori Publications. Weekly prayer circles incorporating Sunday’s Gospel reading.

• Third Grade Mass Celebration

• Community Service

• Stations of the Cross presentation and dramatization on Good Friday (April 6^th)

•  Second Step

•  Steps to Respect

 Science- Foss, An inquiry-based program emphasizing hands-on discovery, observation, and prediction.

• Rocks and Minerals (Fall)

• Simple Machines/Sound (Winter)

• Insects(Spring)

• Instructional Materials are also borrowed from the Burke Museum and Pacific Science Center

• Field Trips and Guest Speakers

Harcourt, An inquiry-based program that touches upon life, earth and physical science.

 Social Studies-People and Places Everywhere, Nystrom Pub.

Students focus on a variety of communities and their characteristics, exploring concepts such as size, location, climate, history, and common needs, such as places to live and work, transportation and communication, laws and leaders.  Their study includes their own communities as well as other communities in the U.S. and World.

•  Continent study of North and South America

•  Extensive study of maps, globes, and cardinal direction

•  Study of Seattle past and present- “The Early Seattle Story”

•  Study of Native Americans across the United States.

•  Hands on exhibits, classroom resources, tours, and artifacts provided by The Burke Museum and The Museum of History and Industry.