Third Grade
Third graders make the important switch from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn,’ and begin to deepen their content knowledge across all subjects.
ELA
By the end of third grade, students are expected to read and comprehend increasingly complex literary and informational texts, building knowledge and vocabulary while identifying and analyzing key ideas, themes, characters, plot, main ideas, text structures, and relationships within and across texts. Students will draw several pieces of evidence from texts to support claims, conclusions, and inferences; summarize important information; and demonstrate their understanding through discussion and writing. Students use EL Education as their curriculum.
Math
By the end of third grade, students should be able to read and write 6-digit numbers, and recall multiplication facts and division facts through 10x10 with automaticity. To support this, they will have a strong conceptual understanding of base-ten and how numbers relate to one another. They should be able to represent, compare and order fractions including those greater than one. Students will be able to count coins and make change up to $5.00. They will improve their problem solving skills from single step word problems to multi-step problems, and learn about geometric and real-world concepts like area, perimeter, and polygons. Finally, third-graders will deepen their knowledge of increasing and decreasing patterns, representing data, measurement, and elapsed time. Students use the Eureka Math-VA textbook curriculum.
Science
In third grade, students continue to study forces and matter by learning about simple machines and by examining the interactions of materials in water. They also look at how plants and animals, including humans, are constantly interacting with the living and nonliving aspects of the environment. Students will develop more sophisticated skills in posing questions and predicting outcomes, planning and conducting simple investigations, collecting and analyzing data, constructing explanations, and communicating information about the natural world. Students begin to use the engineering design process to apply their scientific knowledge to solve problems.
Social Studies
In third-grade social studies, students will dive into learning about ancient civilizations, diverse communities, and the development of democratic ideas. They will use maps and geographic tools, explore how people adapt to their environments, examine the roles of citizens and governments, and apply basic economic concepts. Students will also practice asking historical questions, analyzing primary and secondary sources, identifying cause and effect, comparing perspectives, and using evidence to support conclusions. There’s a strong focus on historical comprehension to communicate evidence-based ideas through speaking and writing. Students use the Five Ponds Press curriculum to engage and explore.
Additional Learning Opportunities
Third grade students at RPS also receive exposure to the arts, including fine arts and music, as well as the library and PE classes. Many schools also offer periodic Spanish-language instruction — please reach out to your school principal to learn if this is an option. Additionally, third grade students transferring into RPS can test into SPACE programming, which offers a rigorous and challenging curriculum for academically advanced students. Initial testing typically occurs in the 2nd grade.
Social-emotional Skill Development
In third grade, students should be developing stronger self-awareness, independence, responsibility, and relationship skills. They should be able to recognize and regulate their emotions, organize their materials and tasks, set simple goals, work productively with different classmates, and express disagreement respectfully. Students should also demonstrate empathy, consider other perspectives, resolve minor conflicts, and make responsible decisions with increasing independence. Social-emotional growth is evident when students can persevere through challenges, manage disappointment, accept constructive feedback, take responsibility for their choices, begin to advocate for themselves and others, and contribute positively to a respectful and inclusive classroom community.