| Language Arts
In third grade, students continue to develop strategies to
effectively use language. Through the presentation of reports
and journal writing, they learn to write and speak for a specific
purpose. Students learn to become strategic readers by identifying
the elements of a story. They read expository material for
specific information. Study skills include note taking, the
use of reference materials, interpreting graphs and diagrams,
and test-taking skills.
Vocabulary development continues to include the refinement
of phonetic and decoding skills. Word analysis strategies
include: homonyms, antonyms, synonyms, analogies, multiple
meaning and compound words. Students expand their vocabulary
by learning strategies for identifying unfamiliar words.
 Reading
comprehension skills taught include: understanding fiction
and nonfiction reading selections, identifying main ideas,
sequencing events, recalling details, making predictions,
drawing inferences, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
Third graders continue to learn and practice the steps of
the writing process. Peer conferencing is introduced as another
revision technique. Proper grammar, spelling, and the mechanics
of writing are taught to enable students to proofread and
communicate more effectively.
Mathematics
Third graders focus on fact families in addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. They continue developing strategies
for multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. Learning
multiplication facts through the 10s is a goal this year.
Other third-grade skills include understanding large numbers
in addition to working with small numbers using equivalent
fractions and decimals (to the thousandths). They continue
the study of geometry, negative numbers, calculator skills,
telling time, and geometry.
Practical application of measurement skills includes linear,
weight, and capacity with customary and metric units. Students
perform probability experiments that provide information for
analyzing data and predicting outcomes. Third graders will
have Home Links homework on a regular basis.
Media Center
Third grade is a busy year in the media center. Students
begin to use the computer card catalog to find their books.
They practice searching by author, by title and by subject.
They are introduced to the Dewey Decimal System, and use their
alphabet skills, their math skills and their general subject
knowledge to locate books. Encyclopedia, maps and globes in
the media center are important resources. Students use these
for classroom research on cities, countries and other curriculum
subjects. Third graders are reading chapter books and poetry.
Literature appreciation continues to be important as it is
a lifelong skill. In many schools, biography is an important
unit for third grade as these students find a variety of materials
with information about the person of their choice.
Science
Students learn important science concepts and develop the
ability to think critically by actively constructing ideas
through their own inquiries, investigations, and analyses.
Students are actively engaged in the process of science as
they explore the natural world.
Measurement, the process of quantifying observations, is one
of the cornerstones of science. Measurement compares nature—the
unknown—to a standard unit—the known. Through
such comparison, the organization of the world becomes more
comprehensive. The Measurement Module consists of four investigations,
each designed to emphasize a particular type of metric measurement—length,
mass, temperature, and volume.
Water is the most important substance on Earth. Water dominates
the surface of our planet, changes the face of the land, and
defines life. These powerful, pervasive ideas are introduced
here. The Water Module consists of four investigations in
which students explore properties of water, changes in water,
interactions between water and other earth materials, and
how humans use water.
The Earth, Moon, and Sun Module is designed to introduce students
to objects we see in the sky. Students compare and contrast
the characteristics of the Earth, Moon, and Sun as they investigate
the relative motion of each.
The Structures of Life Module consists of four sequential
investigations dealing with observable characteristics of
organisms. Students observe, compare, categorize, and care
for a selection of organisms, and in so doing they learn to
identify properties of plants and animals and to sort and
group organisms on the basis of observable properties. Students
investigate structures of the organisms and learn how some
of the structures function in growth and survival.
Social Studies
The third grade social studies curriculum focuses on regions.
Students begin by examining regional communities in Michigan
and then go on to explore the five regions of the United States.
Students actively participate in inquiry-based lessons that
emphasize knowledge of history, geography, economics, and
political science as they compare and contrast the US regions.
Third graders continue to expand their knowledge of citizenship
as they further explore the core democratic values.
Visual Art
The third-grade visual art curriculum continues to focus
on the sequential study of the elements and principles of
art, including color, line, form, shape, pattern, composition,
space, and texture. Students are provided activities to stimulate
their imaginations and refine as well as expand their artistic
skills, visual acumen, and historic and aesthetic awareness.
Students at this level can talk about and produce a high quality
of art. They are able to discriminate and form artistic judgments
about their art and the creative efforts of their peers.
During the year, student art may be displayed in individual
school buildings and throughout the community.
Vocal/General Music
In third grade, students continue to build upon their musical
knowledge-base as more complex songs, musical notation, and
vocabulary are presented by the music specialist. Students
actively demonstrate their awareness of the elements of music
through their successful use of dynamics, tone color, melody,
and harmony in the songs they sing and in the accompaniments
and compositions they create. Students deepen their understanding
of the world around them and hone their critical-thinking
skills by tracing a song's geographic, historical and cultural
roots, as well as listening to, analyzing, interpreting, and
responding to a variety of songs and musical works.
Exposure to a variety of music allows students to formulate
attitudes and values about music. A public performance is
often an outcome of the third-grade curriculum.
 Health
Students in third grade review and reinforce the decision-making
steps and process in choices they make. The students are introduced
to the various body systems. The major parts and functions
of the skeletal and muscular systems are identified. Peer
pressure in relation to smoking is discussed, and students
learn to select the appropriate choice of behavior in a given
situation.
Physical Education
Third-grade students continue to work on gross-motor skills,
spatial awareness, and body control. At this level, there
is an increased emphasis on cardiopulmonary fitness, muscular
strength, and endurance. Students are encouraged to run or
do continuous movement activities to increase their pulse
rates. Students are involved in gymnastics with and without
apparatus. Students explore the principles of eye-hand-foot
coordination through a variety of activities. They develop
body coordination, strength and endurance, a sense of fair
play, and cooperation with others.
Spanish
Troy School District's elementary Spanish program is intended
to help children achieve a positive, successful experience
in their exposure to learning another language. Elementary
students in grades 1 through 5 receive 25 minutes of oral
instruction per week. In third grade, the children will become
more comfortable with reading and writing in Spanish. The
students will begin independent oral activities, and will
continue mastering listening comprehension skills. Some topics
of instruction include greetings, colors, numbers, family,
community, animals, alphabet, calendar and breakfast foods.
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