Welcome to Third Grade in Room 11! We have an exciting and busy year ahead of us. We will be studying many interesting topics and working on intriguing projects.
Social Studies
Our Social Studies curriculum begins with mapping and geography. Students will learn basic map skills along with learning names of the oceans, continents and geographic landforms. This unit will also include making a globe and a story-writing project about an imaginary journey. We will enhance this unit with a project in which students learn more about where their family is from. In this project, “Where I am From: My Family Story”, students will interview family members, create a family timeline, write poetry, create a collage, and give a presentation to the class.
The next Social Studies unit will focus on Seattle- past and present. Students will learn basic Seattle history and compare how things have changed over time. We will take a field trip to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), invite a museum educator to visit our classroom with a trunk of artifacts, and analyze photographs of various topics relating to Seattle history. Students will also learn photography skills and choose a site to photograph that will tell a story of Seattle. They will select one photo to enlarge and write about in detail. (The third grade team is applying for a grant to fund the cost of disposable cameras, film developing, and enlarging.)
We will also be learning about Pioneers and life on the Oregon Trail through a simulation activity. Students become characters on a wagon train and respond to activities, decisions, and writing assignments from the point of view of these characters. Besides looking at history from a pioneer’s perspective, they will also learn about the Native American perspective and the effects Westward movement had on Native American tribes. The culminating activity is an overnight at Pioneer Farm where we actually live as pioneers for 24 hours.
Science
In Science, we will study Rocks and Minerals where we learn how rocks are formed, perform tests on rocks and minerals and we'll also learn about volcanoes. Another unit is the study of Sound where we learn how sound is made and how sound travels. We will culminate the unit with an assignment to make a musical instrument. Plant Growth is our last unit where we learn about seeds, flowers and bees.
Reading
In Reading, we use a variety of materials to promote a love for literature. We read from the Junior Great Books series, various genres from our Pegasus reading adoption, and a variety of novels that enhance and integrate with our Social Studies units. Students will learn and practice strategies such as making predictions, asking questions, and making connections to strengthen reading comprehension with both fiction and non-fiction texts. The second half of the year students will participate in literature circles. They will learn how to create and answer discussion questions using text based evidence. The goal is for students to strengthen comprehension by engaging in meaningful conversations in a cooperative small group setting.
Writing
In Writing, we focus on narrative and expository writing. We also will be writing poetry as well as writing in our science journals, math journals, personal journals and response journals in reading.
Math
In Math, we do many hands-on projects using manipulatives that help us strengthen our number sense and better understand math concepts. We learn problem-solving strategies to increase our critical thinking. We learn geometry, multiplication and division facts, algebra and so much more.
Besides all of the above, we also learn cursive writing, perform plays, recite poetry, and create many art projects. We have a great year ahead of us! Please come and visit anytime!
