Third Grade Curriculum

The Third Grader transitions from the imaginative early childhood years into concrete experiences of childhood.

In Third Grade, students leave the dreamy, imaginary world of young childhood, developing an increasing awareness of the world.

The core curriculum in Third Grade includes reading, spelling, writing, original compositions, grammar, punctuation, parts of speech, cursive writing, multiplication tables, long division, measures, weights, and money. Stories from sacred texts like the Torah and Old Testament often reflect the student's experience as they leave the protected world of young childhood. These stories provide context for various practical activities including cooking, farming, clothing, and the study of shelters (houses of the world).

By the end of Third Grade, the students are familiar with lowercase and cursive writing. Most of the students read independently, at or above grade level. Students can retell stories in complete sentences and compose simple summaries of Morning Lesson material. They exhibit an understanding of capital letters to begin sentences and proper punctuation to end a sentence. Students play games to act out the different parts of speech and functions of the period, the comma, the question mark, and the exclamation point. Students learn to identify naming words (nouns), doing words (verbs), and describing words (adjectives).

In Mathematics, students study measurement, beginning with the body (thumb, fingers, and feet, for example) and progress to modern, standardized measures. The Third Graders work on all times tables in random order and proceed to long division. Their study begins with concrete, practical activities and then progresses to problem-solving on paper.

Third Graders listen to creation stories from world cultures and develop an early understanding of the earth's origins and plants, animals, and human beings. They study the natural sciences through hands-on work, like processing fruits and vegetables from our farm. 

Third Grade students learn about farming in their Morning Lesson block devoted to understanding how the farmer works with the elements of nature. Students use the plow, and they sow and harvest; they fix fences, prepare garden beds, and weed crops. These farm activities build competence: exposing the students to materials, conditions, and processes that are a basis for formal studies of Science in the upper grades.

In the Fiber Block, students are introduced to fibers from around the world including wool, cotton, flax, and silk. Our students often have the opportunity to help to shear one of our sheep on the farm and then process that fiber for use in their work. In addition, the students also learn how people around the world use fibers to clothe themselves and how they use the plants and animals around them to color those fibers, beautifying their work.

Third Graders also receive continued instruction in Spanish, German, Handwork, Eurythmy, Games and Movement, Farming and Gardening, and Music.