Third Grade Key Learning Targets

Clarkston School District (CSD) strives to provide opportunities for students to meet their full potential. Students must develop the ability to be independent thinkers. They must learn to solve real-life problems and keep up with latest developments. This curriculum summary identifies key learning targets that represent the skills and knowledge required in each classroom to meet the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements at this grade level.

We encourage you to contact any of our elementary schools if you would like additional information.

Character Education

CSD believes that values education is central to the personal growth and development of its students. It helps prepare them to meet the complex challenges of a rapidly changing world. The district further believes the following common values are essential to the character of an educated person. The school must model, teach and reinforce these values:

• Respect
• Self Discipline
• Honesty
• Work Ethic
• Responsibility
• Citizenship

Communication

Communication develops at different rates and is used in all aspects of life.
The third grade student in CSD works on using listening and observation skills.

• Focuses attention.
• Listens to gain and interpret information.
• Checks for understanding through questioning and paraphrasing.

The third grade student in CSD works on communicating ideas clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences.

• Develops ideas for a report or story.
• Uses effective delivery, language and style.
• Presents effectively using action, sound, or images.

The student in CSD works on using communication strategies and skills to work effectively with others.

• Works cooperatively as a member of a group.
• Seeks agreement through agreement and discussion.

The student in CSD works on analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of formal and informal communication.

• Assesses own and others communication strengths.
• Sets goals for improvement.
• Seeks and offers feedback.

Reading

The third grade student in the CSD strives to understand and use different strategies and skills to read fluently.

• Uses text to read unknown words.
• Expands phonics usage to sound out words.
• Stops and asks for help.
• Reads aloud with fluency and expression.
• Alphabetizes to the third letter.
• Reads common nouns, verbs, adjectives, and pronouns.
• Uses word analysis to interpret meaning of unknown vocabulary (roots, endings).
The third grade student in the CSD strives to understand the meaning of what is read.
• Retells reading materials in own words.
• Paraphrases and summarizes the sequence of a story.
• Compares and contrasts simple story elements (main idea and supporting details).
• Identifies problem and solution of a story.
• Reads text independently.
• Begins to use analogies.
• Compares fiction and non-fiction
• Begins to use textbooks to learn.

The third grade student in the CSD works on reading different materials for various purposes.

• Follows written directions involving multiple steps.
• Creates many questions about what has been read.
• Reads silently for at least 20 minutes.
• Uses graphs, maps and tables to locate information.
• Uses guide words to locate information in dictionaries and encyclopedias.
• Uses table of contents.
• Recognizes different types of text forms: fables, myths, tall tales, proverbs, essays

The third grade student in the CSD works on setting goals and evaluating progress to improve reading at home and school.

• Shares reading experiences.
• Seeks and uses feedback to improve reading.
• Assesses own strengths and works to improve.
• Identifies good strategies for multiple choice and short-answer questions.

Written Language

Learning to write brings the learner into the literate community as an active participant.

The third grade student in the CSD works on writing clearly and effectively.

• Writes singular possessives.
• Writes words with diagraphs th, sh, ch.
• Writes words with patterns: -ight, ng, ck, le, wr, kn, ph, tion, able, ss, ll, ff.
• Demonstrates proper use of the prefixes: un-, dis-, in-, im-.
• Edits for common homophones, synonyms, and antonyms.
• Writes legibly in cursive.
• Organizes major events of a story.
• States who, what, when, were, how information in a story.
• Uses commas between city/state, day/year and a direct address.
• Indents paragraphs.
• Writes sentences with past, present, and future tense verbs.
• Selectively identifies main ideas and details.
• Writes titles for documents.
• Identifies story problem; predicts and identifies solution.
• Begins to use analogies in written form.
• Identifies and uses nouns, verbs, adjectives, and pronouns.
• Reads and takes notes.
• Alphabetizes to the third letter.
• Underlines book titles.

The third grade student in the CSD works toward writing in a variety of forms for different audiences.

• Reads, writes, and gives three-step directions.
• Divides words into syllables.
• Writes letters to communicate.
• Writes thank you notes.

The third grade student in the CSD works toward understanding and using the writing process.

• Writes summaries.
• Revises writing for complete sentences.
• Pre-writes, drafts, revises, edits spelling, grammar, punctuation, and publishes.
• Views technology as an important part of learning.
• Uses technology in the writing process.

The third grade student in the CSD works toward analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of written work.

• Uses the assessment process for self and peers in literacy.
• Seeks out and uses feedback.
• Begins to write legibly in cursive.

Mathematics

The third grade student in the CSD understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics.

Number Sense

• Demonstrates the relationship of ones, tens, and 100’s.
• Demonstrates the commutative property related to place value (100+60+4=100+4+60).
• Readily recalls addition and subtraction facts through 18.
• Shows the relationship between addition and multiplication.
• Readily recalls multiplication facts 0-9.
• Explains and demonstrates the relationship between multiplication and division.
• Readily recalls division facts 0-9.
• Uses proper vocabulary for: addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and fractions.
• Adds 4 digit numbers with regrouping.
• Subtracts 4 digit numbers with regrouping.
• Recognizes and labels fractions in halves, thirds, and fourths.

Measurement

• Explains the relationship of area and perimeter of irregular two-dimensionals.
• Uses standard linear 9in, ft, yd, cm, m), liquid (cup, pint, quart, gallon, liter), and area measures.
• Uses physical models to determine volume of rectangular solids.
• Measures to the nearest whole and common fractional parts of units (1/2, 1/4, 1/3).
• Adds coins to $5.
• Computes change to $5.
• Uses and thermometer to give + and — degrees (Fahrenheit).
• Tells time to the minute.

Geometric Sense

• Uses faces, edges, and vertices to classify 2D and 3D geometric figures.
• Describes the location of figures on a coordinate plane using ordered pairs.
• Describes plane and geometric figures in terms of shape, sides, perimeter, and area.
• Matches congruent figures and draws a line of symmetry.
• Constructs, organizes, and interprets graphs, charts, and diagrams.

Probability/Statistics

• Places events in order of likelihood of occurrence.
• Poses questions from data and chooses and explains one type of graph over another.
• Describes measures of central tendency using words like middle and most often.

Algebraic Sense

• Identifies a rule which describes numeric and geometric patterns.
• Writes addition and subtraction problems using algebraic expressions.

Mathematical Tool Usage

• Uses calculator in appropriate computation situations.
• Knows four basic functions on calculator. Uses calculator for basic operations.

Science

Our science curriculum is under review. We are updating goals and choosing materials to teach the following concepts at this grade level.  Clarkston’s Science Program focuses on Earth, Life and Physical Sciences at each grade level. Through the study of specific topics at each grade level, students will gain a breadth of knowledge and develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.

The following topics have been selected at this grade level.

States of Matter, Habitats: Marine Plants and Animals/Oceans and Rivers, Intro to Movement of the Earth—Motion/Tides/Currents, Solar System and Space Exploration (Planets), Geology (Local and Regional).

Social Studies

Social studies provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to participate as responsible and effective citizens in an increasingly complex world.

The third grade student in CSD begins to develop a sense of community through the study of Clarkston and Native American cultures.

• Understands the traditions and celebrations in the community.
• Compares and contrasts cultures from the past and present within the community.
• Understands how growth and development change a community.
• Shows respect for contributions of different cultural communities throughout the world (i.e. Native Americans).

The third grade student in CSD begins to develop a stronger sense of the impact of the environment on community choices.

• Recognizes the impact of environment on the community.
• Shows responsibility in caring for the community environment.
• Identifies how technology impacts the community.

The third grade student in CSD continues to develop an understanding of the influences of continuity and change.

• Understands that communities are always growing and changing (migration).
• Recognizes changes influence community choices.
• Identifies how past and present choices influence a community’s future (emerging cultures).

The third grade student in CSD begins to understand how people participate in making decisions for communities (Civics).

• Begins to understand the structure and processes of community governments.
• Practices appropriate processes and responsibilities of good citizenship.
• Expands the understanding that rules impact safety, order, and harmony in communities.

The third grade student in CSD begins to understand the principles of economics.

• Continues to develop an understanding that work is rewarding.
• Develops a greater understanding of our economic system.
• Expands their understanding that economic choices involve costs and consequences.
• Identifies the impact of various occupations on communities.

The third grade student in CSD continues to develop an understanding of geographical concepts.

• Identifies areas of a map or globe (i.e. desert, sea, regions, major rivers/lakes in U.S.)
• Creates maps of communities.
• Expands geographic vocabulary (i.e. map scale).
• Uses geographic tools (compass rose, map legends, atlases & globes).
• Continues to develop an understanding of states, capitals and major cities.

Music

Music is an essential part of the curriculum of the Clarkston School District. The objective of music education is to provide each student with meaningful knowledge and skills to empower them to be involved in music throughout their life.

The major goals of music education in CSD include:

• to develop self-discipline and a positive self-image.
• to broaden student’s sensitivity to their own and other cultural heritages.
• learn appropriate social behavior in group situations.
• provide students with knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in music.
• provide an opportunity for students to display their musical knowledge and skills through performances.

Health & Wellness

The third grade student acquires the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a healthy, active life: movement, physical fitness, and nutrition.

Understands why and how to take care of your teeth.

• Knows why good dental health is important.
• Knows the strategies for dental health (regular check ups, flossing, brushing, nutrition).
• Develops a personal plan for good dental health.

Understands why and how to get good exercise, relaxation, nutrition, and sleep.

• Knows why good exercise, relaxation, and sleep are important.
• Gets enough exercise, relaxation, and sleep.
• Develops a plan to get good exercise, relaxation, and sleep.
• Knows the major classes of nutrients and their functions.

Applies basic first aid and safety rules.

• Knows about hazards which can cause injury (fire, electrical, substances, scrapes, cuts).
• Uses first aid for minor injuries.
• Gets help for injuries or emergencies.
• Knows basic safety rules (pedestrian, animal, transportation, water, fire, stranger).

Understands how alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can affect you.

• Knows the short-term effects of alcohol, tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and some drugs.
• Knows the long-term effects of alcohol, tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and some drugs (physical, mental, emotional, social).
• Knows how to feel good without alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
• Develops and commits to a plan to not use alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Understands causes and prevention of disease.

• Knows how to avoid bloodborne diseases.
• Knows possible causes of heart disease and cancer.
• Knows what behaviors help prevent disease and illness.
• Supports others to make healthful choices.
• Knows how to prevent the spread of head lice.

Physical Education

Applies physical education to life.

• Works to have better coordination, endurance, and a good attitude.
• Knows the benefits, safety practices, and rules for participating in physical activities.
• Knows why it is important and what it takes to get in shape.
• Is a good sport about winning and losing, is a good team player, encourages and helps others, and follows the rules for team games.
• Knows your own strengths and weaknesses and the value of practice.
• Takes care of sports equipment.
• Knows local sports and recreational activities and places.
• Identifies equipment used in various sports.

Has the knowledge and is gaining skill in team sports (i.e. kickball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball).

• Pre-kickball: rules, correct overhand throw.
• Pre-soccer skills: kick properly, dribble ball with feet, pass ball with accuracy, trap ball, and deflect and catch ball as goalie.
• Pre-volleyball: do two-handed catch set, serve underhanded, and play properly with others in a modified game.
• Pre-basketball: dribble basketball, bounce and chest pass, catch basketball properly, and play properly with others in a modified game.
• Pre-softball: grip softball and bat properly, throw softball properly.
Increases muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, body awareness, and agility through fitness and recreational activities ( i.e. jumping rope, endurance running).
• Shows individual skills with short rope.
• Does warm-up exercises, jumping jacks, pushups, one-minute bent situp, 40-yard dash, pull-up/flex arm hand, shuttle run, and standing long-jump.

Technology

The district strives to provide access to technology to all students. Age-appropriate curriculum is being developed in these areas:

The third grade student understands and uses:

• Basic Computer Operation
• Word processing, drawing and painting software
• Presentation and communication software
• Multi-media equipment and software.