Bible Study
The third grade program is based on the CPH “Voyages,
Exploring God’s Word” curriculum. Lessons
are designed to help the children learn key concepts
of faith such as Law and Gospel, confession, repentance,
forgiveness and grace. The children are led to see God’s
love in sending Jesus to redeem them. The lessons are
based on selected sequential Bible stories from Creation
to Pentecost. Each lesson encourages children to live
Christian lives empowered by the Holy Spirit. The third
grade memory program includes learning the names of
the books of the Bible, the 10 Commandments with meanings,
Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers and selected
hymns and Bible passages suggested by the religion book.
The 3rd graders lead one of the weekly worship services
for grades K-8.
Language Arts
Reading
The children in third grade are introduced to many
new reading skills. They learn how to summarize stories,
give the main idea of a selection, and give supporting
details. They also learn to analyze stories to determine
setting, main characters, problem, and steps leading
to resolution and conclusion of the story. They learn
study skills including using dictionaries, encyclopedias,
glossaries and indexes. They also learn comprehension
skills and word attack skills.
The children have many experiences with reading fiction,
non-fiction, informative, and biographical articles.
They are given many opportunities to read for pleasure
and information.
We go to our school’s library once a week where
the students are able to check out books from our
growing collection. Each student will be encouraged
to accumulate points in our computerized Accelerated
Reader program, which checks the students’ comprehension
of the books they read.
Language
With our focus on language as a necessary communication
tool, third grade students will be focusing on the
grammar skills of sentence structure, nouns, pronouns,
verbs, adjectives, adverbs, punctuation, and capitalization.
Instruction on these basic skills is designed to expand
the student’s ability to write. Students will
learn to write for specific purposes and in specific
styles that include poetry, narratives, descriptions,
and informational paragraphs.
Spelling
The third grade student will study the spelling of
words directly and indirectly. There will be a list
of words to learn each week which will follow a pattern
or rule of spelling. The pattern or rule will then
be noted as it appears in other words. Spelling will
be guided in all writings of the student.
Math
We are using the Saxon Math program, which is a success-oriented
program that enables all children to develop a solid
foundation in the language and basic concepts of all
areas of mathematics.
It is the Saxon philosophy that mathematics builds
on prior learning. New learning is presented in increments,
with time provided between increments for practice.
Mathematical strands are integrated throughout the
year rather than taught in isolated units.
In third grade, there is an emphasis on the learning
of the multiplication facts. There is also an introduction
to long division.
Science
Science is taught from the Christian perspective.
Teaching from this perspective involves building all
lessons on the foundation of God’s Word.
The third grade students are provided with many opportunities
to construct their own knowledge of science through
hands-on activities that are pertinent to the concerns
of their daily lives.
The third grade program includes the following units:
Life Cycles; Sun, Moon, and Earth; Forms of Energy;
Earth’s Water; and Roles of Living Things.
Social Studies
Map skills learned in previous years are reviewed
and reinforced. More advanced skills are also developed.
Students use these skills throughout the year as they
study their world and its communities.
The program builds and expands the concept of community.
The students learn that in communities basic needs
are met and relationships are formed because of commonalities.
The children learn about different types and sizes
of communities both in the U.S. and also in foreign
countries. Different kinds of communities include
large cities, suburbs, rural communities, moveable
communities, and early American communities. The children
learn how the national government located In Washington,
D. C. works and makes decisions that affect their
lives.
Art, Music, Physical Education, and Current
Events
Each of these subjects is taught every day of the
week for one quarter by a different teacher. This
enables the classroom teacher to have a planning period.
