Why Third Grade at Friends Academy?
In third grade, children go through a big transition – from the “little kids” of second grade to emerging leaders of Lower School. During this school year, they build character traits that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. At Friends Academy, third graders are given the support they need to take charge of their own learning, think for themselves, and go at their own pace while also pushing themselves to do more.
A large shift takes place in language arts, as children evolve from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” Teachers seize this opportunity by hosting Readers’ Workshop and Writers’ Workshop, two regular periods when students choose topics they want to read and write about, and take time each day to practice and strengthen their skills. Third graders are often seen huddled together on the floor in a circle listening to a fellow student or their teacher read a story aloud, or tucked comfortably under tables with pillows while they soak up a new book from the library.
In third grade, Friends introduces specific classes for Sally Borden Program students with dyslexia. Although these classrooms are separate, the full grade regularly combines for “Mix It Up” period, where they study the geography and cultures of the world, as well as specials (art, music, science, and PE). The theme of “learning differently” permeates the entire grade; third grade classes talk about diversity, inclusion, and respecting and celebrating differences. By the time they head to fourth grade, third grade students understand that everybody’s brain works differently and that our differences are a strength for both our community and the world.
“Friends has transformed our son from school loathing to school loving! The supportive environment builds confidence and overall happiness.”
Parent of a third grade student
Let’s Talk About Third Grade at Friends Academy
If you’re interested in learning more about third grade for your child, please submit an inquiry or start an application today.
Meet the Third Grade Team
The third grade team at Friends Academy includes classroom teachers, specialists, and administrators. They work together to get to know each child personally and create a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education.
Third Grade Curriculum
At the end of each week, the third grade teacher sends out a newsletter to families with photos and updates about what students learned that week. (See a sample newsletter.)
Language Arts (Reading and Writing)
- Exploring various types of writing, including personal narratives, poetry, and non-fiction reports, with a focus on adding details to build toward thoughtfully constructed paragraphs
- Concrete study of grammar skills, including parts of speech and parts of a sentence
- Developing reading fluency and stamina through group reads, read aloud opportunities, independent reading, and book clubs
Mathematics
- Introduction of more advanced math skills (multiplication and division)
- Understanding of geometric concepts and language for both two- and three-dimensional shapes
- Become familiar with elements of a graph and how to interpret data displayed graphically
Social Studies
- Developing an understanding of and appreciation for various parts of our world
- Become familiar with maps and how to use features like keys, legends, and scales
- Practice research skills, differentiating between fact and opinion/fiction
- Explore each continent, focusing on cultures and languages, ecology and wildlife, geographic features, news, landmarks, and weather
Science
- Explore invertebrates, with a focus on ants, the monarch butterfly, and other insects found on the Friends Academy campus
- Understand how organisms and their environments evolved over time, and analyze habitat changes that may affect the ability of organisms to survive
- Become familiar with the solar system and our place in it, including the scale and distance of planetary objects, the life cycle of a star, and space missions and current events
Physical Education
- Promote physical activity and the benefits of healthy living
- Develop movement skills – including locomotor movements, ball manipulative skills, and dance/gymnastics – and understand when to apply skills in game play
- Practice life skills such as teamwork, cooperation, respect, taking turns, following directions, and communicating with peers
Art
- Identifying and discussing art from various world cultures
- Introduction to basic sewing skills
- Creation of texture rubbings, watercolor landscapes, 3D sculptures, and more
Music
- Discover the role of music and lyrics in our lives, including musical storytelling
- Learn to improvise using xylophones
- Develop skills in instrument playing and reading notation by using classroom instruments such as drums and xylophones
- Continue to sing in multiple parts
- Learn about musical traditions and the role of music
- Develop note reading skills
Library
- Learn techniques and ethics of research, including searching databases, choosing reputable websites, and including proper citations
- Practice methods of organizing digital research, such as saving images on Google Drive
- Create a slideshow using digital research and organization skills
- Discover new books for independent reading time