Third Grade

Language Arts

In the third grade, children begin to look more closely at the world around them. Third graders are developing a sense of individuality and separateness from others and need a curriculum that helps them stay grounded during an important childhood transition. The dreamy fairy and folk tales of previous years lead into a study of the complex relationships found in the Old Testament and Midrash stories of the Hebrew tradition. We introduce lively stories from the various indigenous tribes of North America. In response to these stories, students develop skills in descriptive writing and composition, deepen their reading comprehension and continue to build spelling and vocabulary skills.

Writing

The study of more formal rules and structure of the English language parallels the students' need for form. Basic parts of speech, punctuation, capitalization, indentation, and sentence and paragraph formation are usually taught. Spelling practice may begin in the weekly lessons. The children might write about the meals they prepared, shelters they made, textiles they created, or farms they visited. Children begin to recite longer poems and narratives, taking on both individual and choral parts. Students participate in a class play as well as assembly performances. Cursive handwriting, which may have been introduced in second grade or now in third grade, is practiced with the goal of developing a well-formed cursive script.

Reading

With respect to reading, students read aloud both published texts and those written by the teacher. The students have opportunities to practice sustained silent reading as well as choral reading and reading in small skill-based groups.

Mathematics

The arithmetic curriculum, which deals with measurement, time, money and other practical applications, coincides with the children's need for orientation in space and time (ancient and modern). With respect to time, the children may make sundials, candle clocks, hourglasses, and pendulums. Linear measurement could include a study based on human anatomy: for instance, an inch was once the length of the thumb knuckle; a foot was the length of a human foot. The study of measurement reinforces the basic arithmetic skills and facts introduced in previous years. Work towards mastering the times tables and math facts continues through daily aural and written practice. The concepts of borrowing and carrying are reviewed and practiced along with times tables. Long division is usually introduced. The use of money can be introduced both historically and practically. Through movement, drawings, and use of chosen forms, the form drawing curriculum is a precursor to more complex mathematics and geometry.

Sciences

Practical, hands-on activities like farming and building appeal to this age group. We examine the traditional vocations of our region—such as farming, cloth production, and house building—as a means to learn more about the measurement of time, natural cycles, distance, weight, money, volume, and higher multiplication. These studies culminate in a class building project where students can put to practice what they have learned across disciplines. The third graders are also in charge of a class vegetable and flower garden.

SPECIALTY SUBJECTS

Movement

Students have multiple recesses throughout the day, in almost all weather, to energize their bodies, let their academic studies rest, and activate their minds through social play, group dynamics, and exploration of the physical environment.  Students have access to a large playing field, woods and a stream, natural climbing structures and digging spots, all which encourage them to engage them in unstructured and imaginative play.

Physical Education is specifically taught by the Movement and Games teacher, and the focus for Grade Three is the introduction of organized physical games with rules and strategy. In the winter, students participate in cross country skiing/snowshoeing and travel to a local ice rink for our Learn to Skate program.

World Languages

Students in third grade continue their studies of German and Spanish, which each meet twice per week throughout the school year.  In Grade Three, we are most concerned with furthering cultural exposure and increasing memory, language, translative thinking and vocabulary skills.  These languages are taught mostly in the native tongue to familiarize students with the sound and cadence of the particular language and use games, stories, guided drawings, songs, and movement to engage students with the language.  It is not until the older grades when writing and grammar are explored.

Handwork

Coordinated movement of the hands and limbs is essential to the development of the intellect and academic capacities, as well as the physical integration of the child’s maturing body.  For this reason, Handwork is taught in all grades, beginning even in Early Childhood. Handwork teaches children to complete challenging tasks and to appreciate each other’s work. Mathematical concepts such as parallelism, mirror-imaging, progression, and geometric forms are experienced through this tactile learning experience.  The aesthetic experience of creating something beautiful also nourishes and refines the child’s emotional well-being. The children learn to crochet in order to strengthen their dominant hand and create a three-dimensional project such as a pouch, hat or hand puppet.  

Art

Art is part of every class, every day and the aesthetic focus of all subjects is a hallmark of Waldorf education.  While no formal art classes are taught in the lower grades, students learn beeswax modeling, form drawing, wet-on-wet watercolor painting, and traditional drawing and crafts.  These are led by the class teacher and are often accompanied by stories or related back to something the students have recently learned or experienced.