Third Grade Science and Social Studies with Time4Learning

Time4Learning presents a logical and sequential approach to teaching science and social studies.

In the third grade science lessons, students will demonstrate an understanding of the process of scientific investigation, will explore the nature of matter, study the ins and outs of energy, force, and motion, delve into earth science, and find out how living organisms interact with their environment. Learn more about third grade science lesson plans.

Map skills are enhanced in third grade social studies and geographic terms are introduced. Students also study Alaska Inuits, Vikings, exploration of the Americas and colonization of North America. They will also begin to explore the concept of economics. Read about all the third grade social studies lesson plans here.

There are 134 science lessons and 107 social studies lessons included in the curriculum for third grade at Time4Learning. The Time4Learning program combines illustration, animation, real pictures, audio, text, video and embedded simulations in multimedia online lessons and activities.  It also combines math and writing skills in cross-curricular activities that are completed both on and offline.

Using a combination of interactive lessons, offline worksheets, and assessments, Time4Learning Third Grade Science and Social Studies curriculum correlates to all state standards and benchmarks.

To find out more about the Third Grade science or social studies program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire Third Grade Scope and Sequence. Sign up today to let your Third Grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Third Grade Science and Social Studies Program.

 

Posted under Homeschool, elementary homeschool curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, science, social studies, third grade curriculum

This post was written by Kerry on July 24, 2009

Third Grade Language Arts with Time4Learning

A third grade reading program should be taught using a system of third grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a third grade reading program.

The major language arts strands for a third grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a third grade reading program.

A third grade language arts program includes word analysis, decoding, and vocabulary development. Reading skill develops as students learn more about the basic features of reading. Third graders select letter patterns and learn to translate them into spoken language by using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent guided reading skills.

The third grade reading program requires students to recognize and use complex word families when reading to decode unfamiliar words. Language arts lesson plans help students decode multi-syllabic words.

Third grade children use sentence and word contexts to find meanings of unknown words. They also learn to use a dictionary to find meanings and other features of unknown words. Another clue to word meaning is the knowledge of prefixes (e.g., un-, re-, pre-, bi-, mis-, dis-) and suffixes (e.g., -er, -est, -ful).

The third grade reading program requires children to read narrative and expository text aloud, fluently and accurately, and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression. Students begin to understand antonyms, synonyms, homophones, and homographs to determine the meanings of words. The third grade reading program also includes language arts lesson plans that help children demonstrate knowledge of levels of specificity such as a cat compared to animals, or a banana compared to food.

The third grade reading level is tested with reading skill comprehension strategies such as generating and responding to essential questions, making predictions, and comparing information from several sources. For example, third grade guided reading includes comprehension of the purpose in reading, so students develop reading skill by telling about the information being sought. They are expected to ask questions and support answers by connecting prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from, the text.

Students in the third grade reading program demonstrate comprehension by identifying answers in the text. They recall major points in the text and make and modify predictions about forthcoming information. Through third grade guided reading they learn to distinguish the main idea and supporting details in expository text, then extract appropriate and significant information including problems and solutions. They follow simple multiple-step written instructions appropriate to their reading level, and interpret information from diagrams, charts, and graphs. Language arts lesson plans also teach children to use titles, tables of contents, chapter headings, glossaries, and indexes to locate information in text.

Another vital component of the third grade reading program is literary response and analysis using a third grade reading list. Students develop reading skill by distinguishing between structural features of the text and literary elements such as theme, plot, setting, and characters. Language arts lesson plans for third grade students encourage development of an ability to distinguish common forms of literature such as poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, as well as the basic plots of classic fairy tales, myths, folktale, legends, and fables from around the world. The third grade children learn to determine what characters are like by what they say or do and by how the author or illustrator portrays them.

Via guided reading, third grade students learn to determine the underlying theme or author’s message in reading level appropriate fiction and nonfiction text. The third grade reading program uses language arts lesson plans that help children recognize the similarities of sounds in words and rhythmic patterns such as alliteration and onomatopoeia in guided reading selections. Third grade children are asked to identify the speaker or narrator.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive third grade language arts curriculum using fun, third grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the third grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire third grade language arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your third grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Third Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, elementary homeschool curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, online reading, reading curriculum, third grade curriculum

This post was written by Kerry on July 22, 2009

Third Grade Math with Time4Learning

A third grade lesson plan relies on many learning tools - 3rd grade math worksheets, 3rd grade math games, and lots of 3rd grade math activities and word problems to ensure relevancy. The major math strands are number sense and operations, algebra, geometry and spatial sense, measurement, and data analysis and probability.

Third grade math students build on what they learned in kindergarten, first grade and second grade math, which led them to the number 1000. In third grade math they work with numbers through the hundred-thousands or more. They learn about decimals in the context of money and get experience with fractions up to 100. Third grade math opens them up to a greater understanding of measurement techniques, geometry and algebraic thinking. It will be a challenging year as they are presented with many new and complex concepts.

Third grade math students compare and order numbers through one hundred thousand. They learn fractions including thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and eighths. Using money they’ll learn about decimal notation.

Third grade math students learn about extended forms of numbers and know the value of any given digit in whole numbers to thousands. They learn that the value of each place is ten times that of the place to its right. They are asked to compare the decimal number system with Roman numerals.

Third grade math students work with whole numbers of three digits or more. They will understand and explain the inverse relationship of addition and subtraction and write related fact families. They demonstrate an understanding of multiplication by skip counting, modeling with objects or drawings, and using doubles.

They learn about the commutative and distributive properties of multiplication, noting patterns in the facts tables such as the regularity of fives and nines. They are asked to explain the inverse relationship between multiplication and division and to write related fact families. Children in third grade math learn about division including an understanding of remainders.

Third grade math students choose estimation strategies for real-world problem situations, estimate quantities of objects to 250 or more, and determine reasonable estimates of quantities. They predict relative sizes of solutions in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and are able to explain the reasonableness of their answers.

Third grade math is where the basics of arithmetic operations should be mastered and where third grade geometry moves into the conceptual.  This mastery is developed with third grade math lessons, interactive activities, and printable worksheets. With worksheets and 3rd grade math games, third grade math problems are practiced and reinforced to develop 3rd grade math skill to meet the grade level expectations: third grade math tests are more rigorous than in previous years.

There are 190 math activities in the third grade curriculum, and children can either move through them sequentially, or pick and choose from the lessons, using the Activity Finder. Parents can easily follow their child’s progress by logging into the child’s portfolio and viewing day by day lessons or a customizable and printable report than can be sorted by subject, lesson type, or date range.

To find out more about the third grade math program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire third grade math scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your third grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning Third Grade Math Program.

Posted under elementary homeschool curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, math curriculum, online math curriculum, third grade curriculum

This post was written by Kerry on July 20, 2009