Overview
Third Grade at Alta Vista
Third Grade is an important developmental year. Students go from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Inference and "reading between the lines" become important for comprehension and author's intent. Their math lessons reinforce multiplication fluency. Later, students can use these facts to think, apply logic, and solve multi-step problems. Third grade is a turning point when students become more self-aware and independent.
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Language Arts
In reading, students learn to identify main idea and supporting details, use inference, identify the author's intent, and begin to understand character development by focusing on what the character does and says. Students begin to learn independent study skills and the use of reference materials. Writing Assessments include informative and
narrative paragraphs.
Social Studies
Students learn about our local community. The emphasis is on change in our local community over time. Students learn about their family history and make Cultural Dolls to represent their heritage. Students also study historical figures in a biography unit.
In reading, students learn to identify main idea and supporting details, use inference, identify the author's intent, and begin to understand character development by focusing on what the character does and says. Students begin to learn independent study skills and the use of reference materials. Writing Assessments include informative and
narrative paragraphs.
Social Studies
Students learn about our local community. The emphasis is on change in our local community over time. Students learn about their family history and make Cultural Dolls to represent their heritage. Students also study historical figures in a biography unit.
Birthday Celebrations
As mandated by the recent Child Wellness Act, our school is supporting healthy eating habits. Please do not bring food to celebrate your child’s birthday at school. You are welcome to bring a small party favor such as a pencil or sticker.
Math
Students sharpen computational skills. By the end of the year, students are expected to know their 1-10 multiplication and division facts to automaticity. Students use this skill to analyze and solve problems, often requiring more than one step.
A key skill is for students to begin to understand the relationship between whole numbers and fractions.
Science
There are three main topics in third grade science: Extreme weather, forces in nature, and life sciences.
Students focus on adaptations as they learn about crayfish in class. They produce a report on a marine animal which culminates with a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Field Trips
In addition to the Monterey Bay Aquarium trip third grade field trips include Sanborn Park and the Campbell Historical Museum.
Third Grade Staff
Mrs. Boynton
Room 11
Mrs. Werner
Room 12
Ms. Malave
Room 13
Mrs. Hammer
Room 19