WM 3rd Grade Curriculum Update
January 2019
Reading and Writing
Reading
Third Graders will soon be beginning their next reading unit on Character Studies. Throughout this unit your student will: get to know their character and their traits, follow characters across a story and compare and contrast characters in books.
Writing
During writing students will be trying out a new Unit called “Up the Ladder” which will take them back to narrative writing. 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
Unit 4: Measurement & Fractions
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
This month, we’ll talk about the Caldecott Medal. We’ll share past award winners and honor books, and we’ll talk about how a book is chosen for the award.
Music
Mrs. Spahn’s classes will be working on: Ukuleles! We will be using the Yousician music program, along with lots of supplemental material to learn chords, strumming, and single note songs
Ms. Soltis’ classes will be working on:the difference between major (happy sounding) and minor (spooky sounding)
Technology
Third graders will start one typing day and one project day in the 6 day schedule. On the typing day they will continue to work on proper keyboarding technique and finish learning all key placements on the keyboard. To start off our first few project days we will be learning about the MCPASD Student Technology Acceptable Use Policy.
Art
How do artists tell a story? How do artists engage their audience? How does art change over time? How do artists invent new movements of art? Why is it important for artists to try different media? (Pop Art Sculpture Park Drawings, Pop Art Donuts
PE
This month, students will learn, practice, and review how to play games and activities that use both short and long-handled implements. We will be starting with Floor Hockey and finish out the month with Net Games (volleying and racquet sports).
Guidance
We are finishing up our Unit on Empathy and Bullying. We will wrap up before break with a lesson on Diversity.