3rd Grade Curriculum Overview

Secular Curriculum Overview

 In 3rd grade reading/literature students will learn to:

• use decoding strategies to clarify pronunciation
• use context clues to infer the meaning of new and unfamiliar words, including synonyms, antonyms and homophones
• use a variety of strategies to determine meaning and increase vocabulary (for example, prefixes, suffixes, root words, less common vowel patterns)
• develop vocabulary by reading independently and using reference books
• understand explicit and implicit ideas and information in 3rd grade or higher texts(main idea, implied message, supporting details, chronological order)
• know the difference between fact and fiction
• understand the use of comparison and contrast within a selection
• understand the development of plot in a 3rd grade level or higher story
• make inferences and draw conclusions regarding story elements of a 3rd grade or higher level text
• identify literary terminology including theme, simile, metaphor

In 3rd grade writing/language students will learn to:

• use a variety of strategies to prepare for writing (mapping ideas, story webs, making lists)
• focus on a central idea or topic
• use an organizational pattern having a beginning, middle and end
• understand the purpose of a first draft
• use effective sentence variety
• follow the conventions of punctuation, capitalization and spelling appropriate at 3rd grade or higher
• use principle of agreement in written work (subject/verb, noun/pronoun)
• use parts of speech correctly in written work (verb tense, plurals, comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs)

Book reports:
Over the course of the year, students will be asked to read books from a number of genres including fables, fantasy and realistic fiction.

In 3rd grade mathematics students will learn to:  

• read, write and identify proper fractions with denominators including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,10 and 100, read, write and identify decimal notation in the context of money, compare and order commonly used fractions, including halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and eighths, solve real-world multiplication problems with whole numbers (two digit by one digit), solve real-world division problems having divisors of one digit, dividends not exceeding two digits, with or without remainders
• solve real-world problems involving measurement using concrete and pictorial models for length, weight, time, capacity, temperature and angles, solve real-world problems involving perimeter, area, and volume using concrete materials or pictures, use schedules, calendars and elapsed time in hour intervals to solve real-world problems
• use appropriate geometric vocabulary to describe two- and three-dimensional figures, identify congruent and similar figures, explore tessellations, compare the concepts of area and perimeter through the use of concrete and graphic materials, apply the concepts of area and perimeter to solve real-world and mathematical problems
• use concrete materials to solve a number sentence with a missing addend for simple world problems(13+r=15), create a simple word problem for a given number sentence, diagram or model
• identify different parts of a graph, interpret and compare information from picto – and bar graphs, identify the range, median and mode in a set of numerical data

In 3rd grade social studies students will learn to:

• read and interpret a single timeline identifying the order of events, use maps and globes to locate and compare places and their environments
• understand the benefits of the development of government, understand the concept of personal and civic responsibility, understand how we find natural resources and their uses

In 3rd grade science students will learn:

• life science - structure of life
• physical science - physics of sound
• Earth Science - Weather

Field Trips
A number of field trips are scheduled each year to compliment studies in the humanities and science.

Judaic Curriculum Overview

TefillahStudents practice reading from the Siddur and increase the Tefillot as the year progresses. As each new Tefillah is introduced, the students practice reading and are also taught the meaning and significance of each Tefillah.

 

ChumashStudents learn from the Chumash text focusing on the lives of the Avot and Imahot. The Torah Parshiot covered in the 3rd grade are Toldot, Vayetze and Vayishlach.
 

•  Students learn the historical events of the Jewish people.
•  Students gain insight into the lives of the Avot and Imahot, learning important lessons of Hashkafa.
•  Students learn to see G-d's hand in historical events and are taught to look for the same in their daily lives.
•  Students are taught of our obligations to G-d.

Skills
•  Accurate and fluent reading from the text.
•  Ability to find the parsha, chapter and verse in the text.
•  Accurate translation of the text.
•  Breakdown of words into root, prefix and suffix.
•  Identify the cities learned in Chumash on the map of Israel.
•  Knowledge of genealogy from Terach, the father of Avraham, through the Shevatim (12 Tribes)

Rashi•  Identifying Rashi letters
•  Introduction to Rashi reading
•  Introduction to the notion of “What is bothering Rashi?”

 

Parshat Hashavua
The story of the weekly Torah portion is reviewed to familiarize the students with the details and sequence of events.

Ivrit
The student will:
•  extend vocabulary in Hebrew sentences
•  demonstrate paragraph comprehension
•  use male, female, singular, and plural nouns, verbs and adjectives
•  use proper pronouns
•  conjugate verbs in the past and present tense
•  use prepositions
•  identify and count numbers 0-1000
•  use colors as adjectives in sentences
•  know the date, days of the week and months of the Jewish calendar
•  use conjunctions
•  use possessive pronouns
•  write compositions
•  begin to tell time in Hebrew
•  write book reports in Hebrew
•  increase vocabulary and correct spelling. (spelling tests are assigned weekly)
•  orally express his/herself in Hebrew at a 3rd grade level

Dinim
•  Laws and customs of each holiday and special events in the Jewish calendar
•  Laws of Netillat Yadayim (washing of the hands)
•  Brachot regarding before and after partaking of food
•  Laws of arising in the morning
•  Kedushat Beit Hakenesset (the laws pertaining to the sanctity of the synagogue)

TzionutOnce a week, B’not Sheirut Leumi teach about Medinat Yisrael. Students learn about the development of the State of Israel. This year the focus is on the Aliyot (various waves of immigration) and the life stories of many of Israel's heroes.