3rd Grade

Arizona’s English Language Arts (ELA) Standards work together to tie in progression from “lower” elementary (K-2) to “upper elementary” beginning in third grade. Starting in third grade students are expected to transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”.  Third graders are encouraged to begin developing their own point of view about the books they read and characters they encounter. Your child’s reading selections grow to include a variety of materials such as fiction, nonfiction, reference, and poetry. Our biggest goal is to teach students how to take meaning from the text and relate it to their everyday world.

The teachers will cover various areas of the language arts curriculum, which includes reading, writing, grammar, spelling and vocabulary. The guided instruction provided by our teachers is made up of independent learning activities and group work.

Reading

Students will read a variety of grade appropriate genres, including literary text, informational text, and poetry. They will learn the elements that are necessary to compose a story such as the plot, underlying theme, the overall message to the reader and a character’s traits. Your child will learn how to read fiction and non-fiction literature aloud with expression, as well as learning to read independently. Some key concepts learned in 3^rd grade reading are:

• Identify reading structures such as compare and contrast, sequencing, and cause/effect.
• Describe character traits, setting, and plot
• Determine authors purpose
• Make inferences within text
• Determine the point of view in which the story is written
• Apply a variety of strategies to comprehend, recount and paraphrase grade-level literature
• Determine the central idea of a text and how key details contribute to that central idea
• Locate evidence in the text to support their answers and opinions

Writing

In 3rd grade writing, teachers will introduce the five paragraph format along with how to organize content so that their writing is smooth and clear. Students will also learn the differences between persuasive, functional and expository writing styles and how each style appeals to the reader in a different way. Students will practice their writing skills by creating their own works of literature such as:

• Personal narratives
• Informational narratives
• Imaginative narratives
• Letters
• Poetry
• Response to text

In 3rd grade social studies, teachers will review events in Arizona from prehistoric times to present day including the contributions of various cultural and ethnic groups including the 22 Indian Nations that reside in Arizona.

3rd grade science is a fun and exciting learning experience for our students as they learn the history and nature of science through physical experiments. Teachers will work with your child to demonstrate the scientific method and the steps to drawing a conclusion and comparing results with predictions. Students will also learn about the life cycles of plants and animals through interactive activities.  Each class will also get to participate in the school science fair.

Physical Education

All students participate in physical education classes at least once a week. Classes focus on competency of motor skills and performance of physical activities in order to achieve and maintain health-enhancing levels of fitness. Positive social interaction is embedded into instruction while promoting the value of physical activity.

Music

All students participate in music classes at least once a week. Students create meaning and expression through the use of listening, performing and improvisational skills. Students are introduced to the elements and theory of music and musical instruments.

Library

Students will have scheduled library visits.  In addition, Noah Webster offers an online cataloging system. Destiny Quest allows students to browse Noah Webster Schools Library’s entire collection and place a hold on their final selection. The book will then be delivered to the student’s classroom within 3-4 business days. Reference materials are also available.

Art

Noah Webster Schools has implemented Art Masterpiece to introduce artists and styles from diverse cultures and time periods. Students are taught to use classic and modern techniques in order to create artwork to communicate ideas, meanings, and/or purposes.