Grade 3

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Language Arts & Literature Hide

The English and language arts curriculum is designed to develop and promote the student's interest in and knowledge of language and literature, including his abilities to listen, speak, write, and read effectively. He accomplishes this through a comprehensive program that includes a balance of written and oral language. Teachers employ a variety of instructional activities to help students learn the necessary skills and strategies to become proficient communicators. It is hoped that each boy will acquire a lifelong appreciation for the power of the spoken and written language, a love of literature, and a personal belief that literacy can enhance his life. The English/language arts program is built upon three critical strands: listening and speaking, reading, and writing. It also includes four essential conventions: grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling. The grade three curriculum includes activities that involve re-telling stories from basal readers as well as teacher-read biographies. Literary units include Habitats and Animals, Disabilities, Geology, Native Americans and Animal Fun. Students work on various types of speeches, presentations to parents, independent projects and show-and-tell. Phonics, weekly journal responses, daily spelling, and reading social studies and science books as well as biographies and children's magazines provides a variety of texts that accompany poetry and class novels. Paragraph writing, pen pal letters and teacher-student writing conferences offer the student different forums to develop his writing skills. He learns the four types of sentences. Simple subject and verb agreement, as well as learning pronouns, adjectives, compound words, and articles are part of the grammar program in which students also learn the three tenses as well as subjects and predicates. Students learn to capitalize geographical names, holidays and historic periods. Spelling word-sets include one-syllable blends, contractions, compounds and common homophones.

Mathematics Hide

The mathematics curriculum assumes that students will make sense of mathematics in which they engage and become confident, active learners. Building this understanding is a long process that is in sequence and includes mathematical tools, technology and manipulatives. Students solve real-life problems and investigation, explore and investigate mathematical ideas and think both inductively and deductively. Communication is essential: "Students communicate to learn mathematics, and they learn to communicate mathematically" (NCTM Standards). Stuart Hall mathematically-literate students exhibit confidence in their abilities, are flexible, efficient and accurate with basic facts and computation, and demonstrate a variety of problem-solving strategies. The mathematics curriculum is built upon five essential strands:

• numbers and operations
• patterns, functions and algebra
• geometry and spatial sense
• measurement
• data analysis, statistics and probability

The following topics will be covered in 3rd Grade:

• Place Value into the Hundred Thousands
• Money and Time
• Addition and Subtraction Using Regrouping
• Multiplication and Division Facts
• Geometry and Measurement
• Data and Probability
• Fractions and Decimals

Social Studies Hide

Stuart Hall social studies is a study of humanity. Students study the past in order to understand its connection to the present and how it directs the future. The curriculum emphasizes that ethnic and religious groups of the United States and other countries have a role in shaping the diverse society in which we live. The curriculum educates students to use critical thinking to understand the world and how each person fits in the world. The social studies curriculum is built upon four strands:

• civic values, ethics, rights, responsibilities and social participation
• geographic literacy
• historical literacy
• cultural literacy

Third grade students learn about the city's government and how it functions. They explore the many ways citizens can solve their problems, and they learn and understand the rights and duties of citizenship. They study maps of San Francisco and learn about its geography and then study other regions of the United States. They study the history of San Francisco by learning about its people, its land and its many cultural celebrations.

Science Hide

The science curriculum is designed to promote an understanding of the nature of science and an appreciation of its methods and philosophy. The program prepares each student for the future by providing opportunities to investigate, explore, and evaluate the world. The program addresses how science works and what processes and methods expand scientific understanding. In kindergarten through grade five, all three strands (Earth, Physical and Life) are studied. In contrast, in grades six through eight, students study one strand per year. This reflects a shift to more in-depth study in the older grades. The science curriculum is built upon three critical strands: Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science. Hands-on exploration and the use of the scientific method are central to the approach used to investigate the natural phenomena associated with the various strands of science. This approach includes eight essential processes: observing, communication, comparing, ordering, categorizing, relating, inferring, applying. Third grade students recognize that there are life forms at different stages in history, that there are three major types of rocks, and that rocks are weathered. They discover what causes weathering, and they learn how to read rocks. They recognize the properties of magnets, how electricity is produced, and why it is important to conserve energy. They learn how electricity can be changed to other forms of energy. They look at living things and understand that all living things have similarities and differences in form and function. They understand that living things interact with their environment and adapt for survival. They learn that all humans have a responsibility to living things.

Religion Hide

In an endeavor to educate the whole child, we are guided by and faithful to the Roman Catholic tradition of faith in God and in Jesus Christ who reveals to us the love of God for all people. Studying the basic symbols, practices and concepts of religion makes much of history, literature, art and contemporary life intelligible. The intent of the curriculum is to help the student discover and articulate his own beliefs. Because the family is the primary educator in matters of faith and spirituality, we support both parents and students in their religious identities and in the faith foundations established in the home. Active faith propels one toward the pursuit of peace and justice in a diverse world. By educating each child to the love of God, self and neighbor, religious education at Stuart Hall forms in each student deep human values, a sense of wise freedom, and an informed, active faith. The religion curriculum is built upon four strands:

• Scripture: the student understands that scripture is an account of faithful people and that it has literary and historical contexts and inspirational aspects.
• Tradition: the student understands tradition as the collective lived and living response in relationship with God.
• Faith: the student understands faith as trust in God.
• Reason: the student recognizes the role of conscience and discernment in religious and ethical understanding.

The primary goal for 3rd grade religion is for students to acquire an understanding of why and how the Catholic Church exists. Students understand that church is founded on faith, life and the love of God. They learn about history and changes in the way church expresses itself. They begin to see the interconnections of the liturgical calendar and how it fits into the annual and seasonal calendar. They begin to understand that faith grows by trust in God and others. The see the connection between the Ten Commandments and morality as they learn that morality is fundamental to any faithful life. They also learn that there are many communal expressions of faith in various churches and faith traditions. Students look for points of similarity as well as difference among the religions of the world.

International Languages Hide

The primary purpose of foreign language in grade three is to introduce students to the sounds and structures of French and Spanish. All students will take one semester of French and one semester of Spanish for the entire year. During this time, they will learn basic vocabulary, including the names of letters, numbers, days, weeks, seasons and a basic working vocabulary of various essential nouns and verbs. Through culture studies, songs, poems, and art, the students learn that while there are many things that make cultures different, there are also things that make cultures similar. The semester courses acquaint students with the sounds of each language. Students begin to train their ears to hear subtleties and nuances of each language as they develop an approach to studying a foreign language. By the end of the year, students will identify a language preference to study for the next several years.

Art Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." The focus for the third grade year in art is on thematic and cross-curricular projects. A third grade student explores ways of using artistic media to express more complex ideas. He uses paint, conte crayon, pastel, and ceramic clay to polish his skills and is exposed to landscape drawing, self portraits, and animal studies. He continues to work with other students to create an idea for a work of art and understands how his artwork connects to other themes in his classes. He has an increased ability to develop original art projects. He develops a working vocabulary to articulate not only what he wants to create but also how he will create his art.

Music Hide

The study of the visual and performing arts provides the students with opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge of the arts through a sequential, creative, integrated and inclusive program that prepares them for further, more focused study. The arts teach students to participate in society in an intelligent way by encouraging them to "look at things carefully, hear things thoughtfully, feel things sensitively, and understand the role of the arts in the life of the individual and the collective life of [world] culture." In the third grade year of music students hone counting and clapping skills, starting with two beats to the measure and working up to mixed meters with as many as twelve beats. Using the solfeggio chart, boys play melody games as they learn to match their voice to the pitches of the diatonic scale. Boys are also introduced to the soprano recorder. Biographies of famous composers, alongside recorded examples of the music they wrote, enrich each student's understanding of how music can be a window onto history and culture. Significant time is also devoted to preparing Noels and chapel songs.

Physical Education Hide

The primary focus of the physical education program is the student's total physical and emotional development. All students learn the motor skills needed in everyday living and in recreational activities. Students develop and maintain sound physiological functions through vigorous muscular activity. The curriculum provides situations for learning to compete so students learn to cooperate with others, treat others with respect and strive for achievement of common goals. Students learn to accept responsibility for their actions. The program provides a life-long sense of responsibility for health and well-being. The physical education curriculum is built upon four strands:

• physical activity
• movement skills and knowledge
• physical fitness and mental wellness
• social development and movement interaction

The third grade student develops knowledge and understanding of running and tag games, as well as dodging and pivoting activities. He learns to work with a partner, a small group, and a large group as he practices racket work, net ball, parachute, and scooter games, all of which are lead-up games for team sports. He participates in the Presidents' Challenge Program (physical fitness testing) to develop cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, and agility. He also begins do develop a knowledge of complete axial movements, such as arm, leg and trunk movements.

Computer Studies Hide

The computer lab provides an environment in which students, teachers, librarians and lab instructors collaborate on curricular-based projects. Through their years at Stuart Hall, the students explore a variety of hardware, software applications and telecommunications media. Students are introduced to these things at an early age and continually develop their skills. As the field changes, they adapt easily and explore confidently as new technology is incorporated into the curriculum. Critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies are a primary focus. Students will be knowledgeable, independent users of powerful computer applications. The Unkefer instructors, librarians and classroom teachers collaborate to create projects that use open-ended software such as multimedia programs and word processing. Students develop computer skills (copying and pasting, draw tools, etc.) that transfer easily across applications and computer platforms. Changes in hardware, software and curriculum keep the program alive and in a constant flux. The following yearly plans for each grade level are subject to variations depending on classroom teacher input, new products, and changes in technology. Beginning in the first grade and continuing for the next several years, students develop their word processing, multimedia and web skills. They write stories, interviews, and short reports in conjunction with classroom activities and assignments. Students begin to develop interactive multimedia presentations. Projects in the lower grades incorporate basic graphics and text, increasing in scope with grade levels to include digital images, sounds and movies. Students in grades three and four learn basic aspects of desktop publishing and web design. Keyboarding is introduced in the fourth grade via the Herzog Keyboarding Method and the program “Type!” First through fourth grade students also create simple databases and graphs as a means to track and record information. Younger students may use a graphic drawing program to illustrate their findings, while third and fourth graders create more advanced pictographs or use Excel to display results. Beginning in first grade, the computer projects incorporate the basic elements of research and use of reference materials. Each student learns how to cite and evaluate any information they include in their reports. By the fourth grade students have used electronic library and Internet resources to gather information. Students learn how to use these resources appropriately and to critically evaluate their content.