Gilmour Academy34001 Cedar RoadGates Mills, Ohio 44040(440) 473-8160 PHONE(440) 473-8157 FAX

MATHThird graders develop the skills to graph, collect, represent, describe, and interpret data. They learn to integrate graphing into science, and use various types of graphs to analyze, classify, sort, and collect data.Throughout the graphing unit, the students continuouslyreview subtraction facts and the concept of subtractionand regrouping. They study money, identify and comparefractional parts of a whole, and review strategies to solveword problems. Following the graphing unit, studentsbegin a new adventure in number sense and geometryidentifying place value and comparing, ordering, androunding numbers into the hundred millions. With thetime unit, students become familiar with the movement of the clock through hands-on activities. Being able totell time serves as a foundation as the class ventures into elapsed time. With continual practice, projects, andgames, the students begin to grasp the concept of elapsedtime then word problems will be added to the equation.For the remainder of the year, multiplication and divisionwill be the central focus. Through music and other pneumonic devices, students will commit to memory anddevelop a conceptual understanding of their multiplicationand division math facts. Once a solid foundation has been established, they will begin two-digit by two-digitmultiplication and division with a single divisor.

SCIENCEThird graders become immersed in a world of explorationas they investigate weather, space, animal adaptation,nutrition and health, and simple machines. Hands-on science experiments allow them to apply the scientificmethod in a meaningful way. Third graders explore theweather using critical thinking skills and apply attention to details inquiring into weather maps and properties andpatterns of weather, air, and air pressure. They generategraphs from the weather data they collect; constructweather instruments; and assemble models of the layers

GILMOUR ACADEMY LOWER SCHOOLCURRICULUM SPECTRUM

THIRD GRADE

E d u c a t i n g t h e M i n d a n d H e a r t

Megan MarrieDirector of Lower School Admissions

(440) 473-8165

of the atmosphere, the water cycle, and different types of clouds. From here, they are transported in the realm of scientific research and are presented with a Web quest for their chosen topic of research. Building upon theirgrowing technology skills, they explore the Internet tolocate answers to questions and discover facts about thesolar system. With animal adaptation, students interpretfood chains and webs, differentiate between instinctualversus learned behavior, categorize symbiotic relationshipsbetween animals, and develop an in-depth understandingof the components for life and the life cycle. Throughprojects, activities, and experiments, students familiarizethemselves with an animal species and examine waysspecies adapt to survive. Last, they study the relationshipbetween force, motion, mass, gravity, and work andexplore the impact of simple machines on civilization.

LANGUAGE ARTSStudents continue to integrate the Six Trait + 1 writing program in greater depth. The program encourages growthin using ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency,voice, conventions plus presentation to develop their writing skills. Evidence of this development can beobserved as students create simple narrative, descriptive,and expository writing pieces. Students practice the correct use of parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, andadjectives. Exploring different genres of literature, theyderive word meanings from context clues; identify relationships between words, likenesses, and differences;predict the probable outcome of a selection; and drawconclusions from given information. They also begin todevelop greater critical thinking and organizational skills as they identify main ideas and supporting details from factual information and distinguish fact from opinion.The importance of using secondary sources becomes clearer as they expand their vocabulary and determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Brother Robert Lavelle, C.S.C.Headmaster

Dr. Monica M. VetoDirector of Lower School and

Montessori Preschool Program

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LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM SPECTRUM • THIRD GRADE

SOCIAL STUDIESStudents are introduced to mapping concepts such as cardinal directions, intermediate directions, latitude, longitude, continents, and oceans. They use these skills toidentify the characteristics of various communities; locatecontinents, countries, states, and cities on maps; and usemap keys and symbols. Taking advantage of communityresources, they experience the rich history of the City ofCleveland and the wealth of contributions past citizens havemade. This will lead to further research on the first settlers,the Ohio Canal, and the purpose of a city government. Thestudy of Ohio’s history is an important key to understandingnot only the past, but the progress that has been made overhundreds of years. Students will engage in a wide range of activities that enhance their understanding of how Ohioprogressed from a territory to statehood. Students use visualaids to examine the contents of Native American burialmounds along with dramatic artifacts that provide insightinto their culture, education, family life, and methods of survival. Studying the major responsibilities of each of thethree branches of government in Ohio proves to be anauthentic way to demonstrate how the institution of government functions and serves the people in a fair, democratic, and balanced process.

MUSICIn the third grade, students are introduced to the sopranorecorder and learn to read notation on the treble clef. Theydemonstrate their knowledge of fingerings and play withcorrect pitch, accurate rhythm, good tone, and proper technique. Students learn to compose simple melodies toperform on the soprano recorder using quarter, eighth, half,dotted half, and whole notes and rests in 2/4 and 4/4 meter.Their music education is enriched through partnership withThe Cleveland Orchestra. An orchestra member performstwice for the class at Gilmour and the class also attends anorchestra performance at Severance Hall. While singing, students work to improve tone quality and expression.They sing and play soprano recorders at their Christmas concert, and their spring concert integrates speaking partsand songs with choreography. This provides an opportunityto act in a specific role, adapt voice inflections to characterizethe part, practice projecting their voices, and to wait whileothers speak demonstrating respect and cooperation.

ARTThe third grade is devoted primarily to the consideration of work in three dimensions, both real and illusory. This is achieved through the exploration of space as it applies to both graphics and sculpture. In support of this under-standing, students examine the use of atmospheric and linear perspective in drawing and the use of shading to create the appearance of volumes in their graphic work.They draw extensively from observation and imagination to witness the play of light across a surface, the effect of distance upon perception, and the expressive potentialoffered by all. Students then transfer this understanding

of illusory space into the design and construction of three-dimensional work, creating substance from idea.

RELIGIONThird graders examine the person of Jesus as presented inthe “New Testament” and consider the question “Who doyou say I am?” They explore the development of theCatholic Church as a response to Jesus’ message of hopeand how to continue this mission as faithful members of theChurch in the 21st century. Throughout the year, studentsexperience the meaning and importance of the differentLiturgical seasons through daily prayer, reflection, and celebrations of the Liturgy and religious traditions of theirclassmates’ faiths.

SPANISHThe mastery of punctuation is the beginning level of expectation. From this point, students learn to write and readwhat they have learned. The model is phoneme, grammar,and syntax based. By hearing and speaking, students participate in songs and games which constantly reinforcetargeted vocabulary. They master content vocabulary, numbers, colors, and animals. This vocabulary will be reinforced later in other ways through the different gradelevels. One central theme involves making the connectionsto another country through culture. Third graders perform a bilingual Christmas concert based on the tradition of LasPosadas of Mexico. Comparisons and contrasts of lifestylesare introduced through visual and technological means.

PHYSICAL EDUCATIONIn grades 3 and 4, students participate in four 30-minuteperiods plus two 25-minute recess exercise periods perweek where they engage in team games and physical activities, and in one 90-minute physical education classweekly. Phys Ed rotates among sports, strength and conditioning exercises, swimming, and ice skating each for one quarter during the school year. Students developskills in volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, lacrosse, T-ball,and baseball. In their strength and conditioning program, students work at stations using equipment such as run outbands, rock and flex, and others. These activities improveagility, speed, endurance, balance, hand-eye coordination,and upper and lower body strength. Their progress is documented and analyzed. In ice skating, students focus on the development of basic skating technique and areexpected to complete skills such as the heel-to-toe push, forward to backward turns and the reverse, gliding, a two-foot spin, backward stroking, and backward snowplowstop. They are taught to develop proper technique that will, hopefully, lead to a lifetime interest in skating. At the end of the skating unit, students complete a short program thatencourages creativity, self-expression, and skill performance.In swimming, students work toward feeling safe and comfortable in the water and building endurance. Theytransform flutter kicking and floating into both the freestyleand backstroke and work on stroke development and treading water.

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