1. Grade 3 Curriculum Night
Eileen Lunney

2. Below is an overview of outcomes that will be taught in our classroom
Below is an overview of outcomes that will be taught in our classroom. It is important to note that students learn at different rates and with different styles, and thus accommodations may be made to this curriculum in order to meet the needs of all students. Students will be given opportunities to work in large and small groups, as well as individually throughout the year.

3. Language Arts: The Language Arts Program consists of 4 key components:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

4. Listening Skills are taught through:
Listening to and following directions
Listening to stories read by students and teacher
Class discussions
Use of computers, tapes and videos

5. Speaking Activities will include: Class discussions Write & Tell
Brainstorming
Project presentations

6. Reading Skills are taught through:
Reader’s Workshop comprehension strategies
Guided Reading
Literature Circles
Independent reading at their own level
Word family activities that promote phonetic development

7. Writing Activities will include: Writer’s Workshop/ Mini Lessons
Question and answer responses to class activities
Daily agenda writing
Paragraph writing
Creative writing
Revising stories for details, word choice, etc.
Editing stories for punctuation and spelling

8. Cursive Writing
Students in grade 3 are introduced to the alphabet in cursive writing. Initially students learn the letters and basic words using a few letters and then learn how to create longer words using the skills taught. At this level, cursive writing is just being introduced therefore, mastery is not expected.

9. Mathematics:
Mathematics outcomes in the following strands will be taught in class throughout the year:
Number and Operation sense
Data management and Probability
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Patterns and Relationships
Measurement
Mental Math

10. Some big topics covered in the Grade 3 math curriculum are:
Comparing and ordering whole numbers to the thousands
Place value to include tenths (decimals)
Rounding numbers to the nearest ten and hundred
Recognizing patterns in the place value system
Recognizing several meanings for multiplication and division
Reading digital and analog clocks to the nearest five minutes
Congruent angles and polygons, reflective symmetry
Create bar graphs and simple scales
Three second recall of basic addition and subtraction facts to 18

11. Science:
The purpose of the science curriculum at the early elementary stage is to provide students with a variety of activities, which promote exploration and discovery.
Topics covered in grade 3 are:
Plant Growth and Changes
Exploring Soils
Invisible Forces
Materials and Structures

12. Through several thematic units, students will develop in their ability to:
make predictions, based on an observed pattern
use appropriate tools for manipulating and observing materials and in building simple models
make and record relevant observations and measurement using written language, pictures, and charts
construct and label concrete-object graphs, pictographs, or bar graphs
propose an answer to an initial question or problem and draw simple conclusions based on observations or research
communicate procedures and results, using drawings, demonstrations, and written and oral descriptions

13. Health Education: Topics include:
Body Growth and Development: dental health and the body’s skeletal structure and organs
Strategies for Healthy Living: nutrition, ice and water safety, strategies when lost in unfamiliar surroundings
Positive Personal Development and Healthy Relationships: friendship, learning to make positive decisions
Values and Practices for Healthy Living: within our family and our community

14. Social Studies:
The Social Studies curriculum is organized around the theme of Provincial identity. The topics studied this year are:
Place – identifying the major physical features, climates and jobs of Nova Scotia
Peoples – looking at the diverse cultural background of the province
Citizenship – learning about the provincial and municipal governments
Heritage – discovering that many groups have contributed to the provincial identity
Mapping – interpreting symbols, directions and identifying locations on a map using the grid system

15. Art:
Visual art activities will be integrated into the subject areas as much as possible. Students will be given the opportunity to explore a variety of mediums and materials throughout the year.

16. Evaluation: Rubrics Reading Records Daily Work & Participation
Individual Conferencing
Projects
Observations / Anecdotal Records

17. Assessments will be graded using the following rubric that all teachers at Bedford South will be using.
4(Got It!) Proficient: Full Accomplishment Student has clearly shown evidence of meeting the outcome.
3(Got it!) Competent: Substantial Accomplishment Student has shown evidence of meeting the outcome with minor errors or omissions.
2(Not yet!) Low: Partial Accomplishment Student has shown some understanding of the outcome but more evidence of understanding is required to meet the outcome; further learning is required.
1(Not yet!) Low: Little or No Accomplishment Student has shown little or no evidence of understanding the outcome; further learning is required.

18. Home Activities: Math Home Activities – suggestions include:
visiting class website, counting coins, telling time, baking, etc.
Reading Across Canada:
students should be reading for a minimum of 20 minutes per night – bring in their RAC duo-tangs when their journey is complete.

19. Extra Help
Extra help is offered at lunch to all students as they require it
Students are welcome to attend
Some students may be asked to come in

20. Please sign and return assessments in the Assessment duo-tang.
When agendas arrive, please sign them daily to ensure communication between home and school.

21. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for coming and I look forward to working with you and your child this year.