3rd Grade
Course Description
Third grade instruction includes reading, writing, speaking and listening. Third graders will become more fluent readers while applying phonics and word analysis skills. They will apply comprehension strategies to develop a deeper understanding of fiction and informational text. Third grade students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Students will write opinion, narrative, and informative pieces using appropriate grammar and spelling skills. Instruction may be in small groups, whole group, and/or individually, depending on the needs of the students.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Applies Word Analysis Skills When Solving Words
- Reads Grade Appropriate Text Fluently
- Comprehends Grade Appropriate Fiction Text
- Comprehends Grade Appropriate Informational Text
- Reads Independently
- Organizes Writing to Communicate Ideas for Appropriate Task and Purpose
- Develops Topic with Facts and/or Details through Revision
- Applies Grade Appropriate Grammar in Writing through Editing
- Applies Grade Appropriate Spelling in Writing
- Writes Independently
- Participates in Collaborative Conversations
- Reports on a Topic or Tells a Story
Course Description
Third grade students will engage in the study of Missouri and its role in the development of the United States. They will utilize inquiry skills such as questioning, gathering and using evidence, developing claims, and constructing arguments and explanations. Through this inquiry process, they will develop a deep understanding of the past, present, and future impact of human interactions, geography, economics, and government of Missouri. This will prepare students to be critical thinkers who are informed and active citizens.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Apply Geographic Characteristics of Missouri (Unit 1)
- Identify and Explain How Individuals and Events Impact Missouri’s Early Growth (Unit 2)
- Understand Missouri’s Governmental System (Unit 3)
- Identify and Explain How Individuals and Events Impact Missouri after the Civil War (Unit 4)
Course Description
Third grade students move beyond learning basic number sense to applying concepts previously learned as they continue on their mathematical journey. They will improve problem solving skills as they develop an understanding of multiplication, division, fractions, measurement, geometry, and algebraic reasoning. Through real world applications, they will interpret data and analyze statistics.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Understands Place Value to 100,000
- Uses Place Value to Add and Subtract
- Understands Fractions
- Compares Fractions
- Represents and Solves Problems Involving Multiplication
- Represents and Solves Problems Involving Division
- Solves Problems Involving the Measurement of Time
- Solves Problems Involving the Measurement of Length, Liquid Volumes and Weights of Objects
- Understands the Concepts of Area
- Understands Shapes and Their Attributes
- Understands the Concepts of Perimeter
- Represents and Analyzes Data
Course Description
In Adapting to Change, students explore interactions in ecosystems, how organisms adapt to environments, and how ecosystems change over both long and short time scales. Students consider an anchoring phenomenon of disappearing bumblebees in the Midwest. The Crosscutting Concepts of Cause and Effect, Systems and System Models, and Scale, Proportion, and Quantity are utilized as students describe ecological relationships and evaluate ways to remedy ecological disruptions. Students consider three common Midwestern ecosystems- prairies, forests, and ponds. Throughout the unit, the prairie is a key focus. In Change Over Time, students will learn how both individual organisms and groups of organisms change over time. Students consider a case study about pink katydids as the unit phenomenon. The Crosscutting Concepts of Patterns, Cause and Effect, and Stability and Change are featured prominently in this unit as students explore elementary-level concepts of life cycles, traits, heredity, and natural selection. This unit of Observing Weather Patterns, This unit explores the elements of weather, the relationship between weather and climate, and severe weather. The Crosscutting Concepts of Patterns, Systems and System Models, and Stability and Change are featured prominently as students study these topics. First, the students explore different components of weather and weather reports. Students create weather instruments to collect data for temperature, precipitation and air pressure.. The students will define and prepare for hazardous weather with a design challenge. After learning about different types of severe weather, students design and build a levee that can withstand a flood. The physical science unit, How Things Move is about balanced and unbalanced forces, contact and non-contact forces and their interactions. These very complex concepts are explored by making observations about the interactions of cars, ramps, dominoes, parachutes, and other objects. The Crosscutting Concepts of Cause and Effect and Patterns are emphasized as students consider relationships between interacting objects. They use their observations to explain and predict changes in motion.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Demonstrates an understanding of life cycles through modeling
- Evaluates data to explain inherited traits and environmental influences on organisms
- Explores relationships of organisms which influence survival
- Evaluates how animal groups support survival and compares survival of animals in different habitats
- Analyzes data about fossils for environmental evidence
- Explores the relationship of changing environments on organism survival
- Evaluates weather related data to predict weather patterns
- Evaluates climates around the world through research
- Designs a solution to a weather-related hazard
- Investigates Balanced and Unbalanced forces and provides evidence that a pattern can predict future motion
- Evaluates interactions between forces through scientific questioning
- Identifies solutions to problems using magnets
Course Description
Third Grade Art focuses on thinking creatively and critically through exploratory investigation and collaboration. Students will engage in the artistic processes of planning, creating, and reflecting through practicing the Studio Habits of Mind. A variety of skills, techniques, and media will be developed, including but not limited to: drawing, painting, mixed media, collage, fibers, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics. Students will apply visual literacy strategies and develop empathy by relating to the arts of other times, places, and cultures and will communicate about their work throughout the artmaking process. Students will discover their personal voice (or exhibit curiosity) by exploring their interests and/or backgrounds while creating original ideas.
Expected Course Outcomes
- CREATING: Play & Ideation - Elaborate on an imaginative idea. VA:Cr1A.3
- CREATING: Investigation - Apply knowledge of available resources, tools, and technologies to investigate personal ideas through the artmaking process. VA:Cr1B.3
- CREATING: Skill Acquisition - Create personally satisfying artwork using a variety of artistic processes and materials. VA:Cr2A.3
- CREATING: Reflect-Refine-Continue - Elaborate visual information by adding details in an artwork to enhance emerging meaning. VA:Cr3A.3
- RESPONDING: Interpret - Interpret art by analyzing use of media to create subject matter, characteristics of form and mood. VA:Re8A.3
- RESPONDING: Evaluate - Evaluate an artwork based on given criteria. VA:Re9A.3
Course Description
This is a required course for all third grade students. Students meet for 30 minutes twice a week, and will receive instruction on the violin. The course is taught using a modification of the Suzuki style in which the focus is on learning the repertoire by rote rather than reading notes from sheet music. The students will perform repertoire taken from the Suzuki book as well as other folk music.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Left Hand: Demonstrates correct placement of the left hand.
- Bow Technique:Performs bowing techniques.
- Ensemble Skills: Displays ensemble skills.
Course Description
This course will focus on exploring the musical processes of creating, performing, and responding, while forming connections within arts and non-arts disciplines. Students will develop the skills necessary to experience music as a performer and consumer, thus encouraging a lifelong appreciation of music.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Demonstrates knowledge of concepts through the creation of original music.
- Sings, plays instruments and moves to music.
- Evaluates and responds to music.
Course Description
The Third Grade Health/Physical Education curriculum is based on student’s participation in sequential and developmentally appropriate activities selected by the teachers from the suggested facilitating activities. The teachers will focus on and are not limited to, locomotor (combining two or more) and non-locomotor skills, body in space, manipulative skills (passing, throwing, catching), health and skill-related fitness, parts of a workout, benefits of being fit, heart rate, decision making, problem-solving, risk-taking, goal setting, sportsmanship, safety, personal health, and nutrition.
Expected Course Outcomes
- Participate in health-enhancing physical activities
- Participate in a variety of activities that will increase and/or enhance their level of physical activity
- Demonstrate and apply locomotor and non-locomotor skills.
- Demonstrate and apply personal and social responsibilities.
- Demonstrate rhythmic and dance activities.
- Demonstrate and apply manipulative skills.
- Understand the basic structure and functions of the body systems.
- Analyze the factors that influence food choices.
Course Description
The Library Media program for grades 1-3 will continue to develop students’ abilities to navigate and access a variety of current library resources while learning library skills. The program will emphasize growth as lifelong readers and as appropriate users of current technology.
Expected Course Outcomes
- In order to become lifelong learners and readers, students will be able to find, filter, and apply digital and print resources ethically and responsibly.
Course Description
The goal of our program is to have students spend as much time in their regular classroom as possible. Each English Learner (EL) receives support from a certified ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Teacher. The ESOL teacher provides academic support in all content areas, and partners with classroom teachers and other education professionals to ensure that ELs’ needs (academic, social, personal) are met. Rockwood employs a variety of instructional models to support students’ needs. Students may receive services in class, in a small group, or one-on-one depending on their level of proficiency. All ELs also work on developing portfolios as another way to track their academic growth and their English language development.
Expected Course Outcomes
- English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of language arts.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of mathematics.
- English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of science.