Third Grade

Welcome to Third Grade! This is an exciting year for all of us as we learn about a variety of topics. As we become better readers and writers, we will also make connections to the many ancient cultures that we study. We will learn to conduct experiments and will learn about our earth. Possibly the most exciting thing that we learn in third grade is cursive, and multiplication! These are a real sign that we’re growing up! Our third graders are expected to become more independent learners, and responsible individuals. This is a year of growth, as well as a year full of excitement.

What should students accomplish in Third Grade?

Reading
The students will read a variety of genre - fiction, nonfiction, folktales, and poetry.  Students will read age-appropriate text with fluency and expression while learning comprehension strategies. 

Writing
Students will use the writing process to plan, draft, revise, and edit various forms of written work, such as written paragraphs, poetry, informational lists, friendly letters, reports and math problems. Editing skills will be used to correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. Students will also b e introduced to cursive handwriting.

Social Studies
The students will study the heritage and contributions of ancient civilizations.  Students will continue to develop map skills and demonstrate an understanding of basic economic concepts.  Students will explain the importance of basic principles of democracy and identify the contributions of selected individuals.  Students will recognize that Americans are a people who have diverse ethnic origins, customs, and traditions, who all contribute to American life, and who are united as Americans by common principles.

Science
Through investigations, students will develop questions, formulate simple hypotheses, make predictions, and gather data.  Using information students will make inferences and draw conclusions. 

Math
Students will continue developing addition and subtraction skills up to four numbers.  Students will build their place value skills to recognize numbers to the hundred thousands place and estimate numbers to the nearest hundred. Students will use customary and metrics units for temperature, length, liquid volume, and weight. Students will add and subtract fractions and decimals and continue developing skill in money, time, patterns, geometry and graphing.

Spelling The students will learn traditional spelling while being challenged with more difficult words from the curriculum and “Words Are Wonderful”. 

Go toFairfax County's Third Grade Curriculumto see the main units and topics studied