WM 3rd Grade Curriculum Update
February 2020
Reading and Writing
Reading
Third Graders are in the middle of their Character Studies unit. They are using the Because of Winn Dixie as a mentor text and are learning how to follow characters through a whole story. Third graders will continue to focus on character traits and how a character changes over time.
Writing
We have just begun our Up the Ladder writing unit and it has been so fun! Students are focusing on true stories that have problems. In this unit, 3rd graders will be planning and developing short stories with character development, develop characters across a series and bringing out secret thoughts and “quirkiness” in their characters.
Math
Third graders are halfway through Unit 4: Measurement and Fractions. We have spent a lot of time focusing on measuring time, mass, liquid capacity, length, and weight. We are about to start practicing making fractions as fair shares and placing fractions on a line plot.
Big Ideas of Unit 4:
Measuring time and mass
Measuring volume and solving measurement story problems
Fractions as fair shares
Fractions on a line plot
Science
3rd Graders rotate through these FOSS Science kits throughout the year.
Energy and Matter: Students learn about the transfer of energy from one form to another.
Sound: Students learn how sound is generated, how it is made louder and softer, higher and lower.
Water: Students learn the properties, changes, and interactions of water.
Social Studies
We are learning about the different branches and levels of government, basic rights of citizens and the voting process.
LMC - Library
We’ll focus on themes of friendship, love, cooperation, and compassion as we explore fiction and nonfiction this month.
Music
Mrs. Spahn’s classes will be finishing up the ukuleles and begin to learn about the piece Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky
Miss Soltis’ classes will be studying music from around the world! We will be traveling to countries in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and more! Students will be singing in different languages and will be learning about the food, architecture, traditional attire, and instruments from different countries!
Technology
Students will continue to work on proper keyboarding technique and finish learning all key placements on the keyboard. We are starting our Digital Citizenship unit where students will be learning about the responsibilities they have as a digital citizen.
Art
How do artists invent new movements of art? Why is it important for artists to try different media? (Pop Art Donuts)
PE
K-3: February is Heart Healthy Month! This month, students will begin with bowling and finish out the month with basketball. We will be discussing activities and ways students can keep their hearts strong and healthy. There will be lessons including rope jumping and other cardio exercises families can do together. The Jump Rope for Heart Event will be handled differently this year. Although we will continue to teach the valuable lessons introduced with the heart healthy curriculum, families that choose to do fundraising to support the American Heart Association are asked to do so online only this year.