Our Curriculum › 3rd Grade
3rd Grade: the whole year
Every subject a 3rd grade student takes, and what each one covers. Each subject is 180 daily lessons; open any course to see its units and lessons.
Math
Math 3
A full year of 3rd-grade math built around multiplication and division facts, then fractions, area and perimeter, time, liquid volume and mass, scaled graphs and quadrilaterals, with plenty of word problems and review.
- Multiplication tables
- Division, word problems and patterns
- Rounding and larger numbers
- Fractions
- Time, volume, mass and graphs
- Area and perimeter
- Quadrilaterals and equal areas
- Cumulative practice, games and real-world math
- Second round of practice: fluency and word problems
- Mixed review, mastery checks and celebration
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Reading
Reading 3
Third grade reading is comprehension practice: ten core skills are introduced early, then used again and again on short stories and nonfiction passages, with one chapter-book project in the middle. Word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots) are taught briefly.
- Story skills & word-part toolkit
- Reading nonfiction
- Passage practice & close reading
- Chapter-book reading project
- More passages: context, pictures & structure
- Cause-effect chains, summaries & self-check
- Trivia, portfolio & year-end
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Writing & Grammar
Writing 3
Third grade writing covers the three core types (opinion, narrative, informative) in a few days each, then grammar and punctuation, a first research report, a short book of their own, and a long run of shorter pieces in many forms before a final project and portfolio.
- Opinion writing
- Narrative writing
- Informative writing
- Grammar and punctuation
- First research report and a few forms
- Writing a short book
- Many forms of writing, part 1
- Many forms of writing, part 2
- Final story and goals
- Speeches, final pieces and celebration
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Science
Science 3
Third-grade science covering forces and magnets, life cycles, inherited traits and adaptations, fossils, weather and climate, and engineering. Topics come back several times through the year, along with three full science projects and a nature journal.
- Forces, life cycles, adaptations and weather
- First science project
- Resources, nature journal and a second look
- Second science project and how scientists work
- Weather stations, sports forces and more practice
- Third project, friction and engineering challenges
- Comparing and testing: forces, traits and design
- Science olympics, final challenge and reflection
- Trivia, portfolio and year-end celebration
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History & Social Studies
History 3
A third-grade look at world history and early America: map skills, ancient Rome, the Vikings, Native American peoples, Spanish and other explorers, then each of the thirteen colonies in turn, with two research projects, games and a long year-end review.
- Maps, rivers, Canada and ancient Rome
- The Vikings
- Native American peoples
- Explorers of North America
- Jamestown and Plymouth
- The other colonies, one by one
- Comparing the colonies
- Colonial projects and daily life
- Games, projects and looking back
- Trivia finale, portfolio & celebration
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Electives at this grade
Add any of these alongside the core subjects.
Art
Art 3
A year of third-grade art: the seven elements and eight principles of design, the color wheel, drawing from imagination and observation, maps, six hands-on processes, five world art traditions, evaluating art, and a capstone piece with a portfolio.
- Elements of art and principles of design
- The color wheel
- Elaborating ideas and drawing from observation
- Maps and diagrams as art
- Materials and processes
- Art from around the world
- Reading and judging art
- Artist statements and exhibits
- Capstone project
- Portfolio and year-end reflection
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Music
Music 3
A full year of 3rd-grade music with no instrument needed: reading and writing rhythm, shaping melodies, major and minor, meter, the four instrument families, composing and revising original pieces, and judging performances. It ends with a capstone composition.
- Steady beat and reading rhythm
- Melody, timbre and a first sound piece
- Major, minor and meter
- Composing a piece, then revising it
- Timbre and the instrument families
- Why people make music
- Judging performances and family recital
- Capstone composition
- Portfolio review and celebration
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PE & Health
PE & Health 3
A third-grade year of movement skills (combining running, skipping and rolling into sequences, dance, jump rope, throwing, catching and kicking, offense and defense), plus health topics from food labels and dental care to screen safety, feelings and speaking up for health.
- Health goal and hygiene
- Movement combinations, sequences and fire escape
- Dance, jump rope and safe landings
- Game strategy, food labels and dental health
- Defense, throwing form and partner problems
- Eyes, ears, kitchen safety and communication
- Fair play, weather, decisions and feelings
- Whole-body health, teamwork, habits and screens
- Skills showcase and speaking up for health
- Year review, family activity day and goal reflection
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Social Skills
Social Skills K-3
A parent-friendly social and emotional course meant to be used across kindergarten through 3rd grade, at the pace that suits the child. It covers naming feelings, calming down, empathy, kind words, friendship, teamwork and good choices, taught with short stories and practice.
- Naming feelings & calm-down tools
- Staying calm, routines & goals
- Reading others, empathy & fairness
- Words, turns, listening & apologies
- Friends, fair play & teamwork
- Making good choices
- Year in review & celebration
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