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Curriculum Overview – Grade 3

This is a broad overview of the curriculum that will be taught in the third grade at the Franconian International School.

The FIS curriculum has been developed and organized to incorporate components from a variety of concepts and institutions. The FIS Curriculum consists of central elements of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, The National Curriculum from Great Britain, concepts of curriculum from the United States and the official Bavarian Curriculum for public elementary schools.

We have listed the major topics or themes that will be covered during the year for each subject. This is a guide and it is our goal to teach our curriculum as comprehensively and consistently as possible. In the primary grades, many topics will not be taught in isolation as separate subjects, but will be integrated as meaningful experiences that the children will be able to relate to in their everyday life.

Language Arts

Spoken language

¨ Exploring, explaining, planning, predicting, investigating and sharing ideas, insights, and opinions

¨ Reading aloud, telling and enacting stories and poems

¨ Reporting, describing and presenting

¨ Developing listening skills

¨ Discussing and organizing topics

Reading

¨ Various texts, novel studies

¨ Reading and research skills

¨ Improving fluency, accuracy, understanding and enjoyment

¨ Deepen understanding of plot, ideas, characters, vocabulary, and use of language

¨ Use of Library

¨ Studies of George’s Marvelous Medicine, Charlotte’s Web, Mathilda, and The Borrowers

Writing

For a variety of purposes and audiences

¨ Features of layout and presentations

¨ Punctuation and grammar

¨ Planning and drafting processes

¨ Spelling, use of dictionaries and a thesaurus

¨ Develop legible, joined up handwriting

Mathematics

Numbers and the number system

¨ Place value, ordering and rounding

¨ Use symbols correctly

¨ Properties of numbers and number sequences

¨ Fractions and decimals

Calculations

¨ Understanding addition and subtraction

¨ Rapid recall of addition and subtraction

¨ Mental calculation strategies (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

¨ Pencil and paper procedures (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

¨ Understanding multiplication and division

¨ Checking results of calculations

Solving Problems

¨ Making decisions

¨ Reasoning about number and shapes

¨ Problems involving “real life”, money and measures

Handling Data

¨ Organising and interpreting data

Measures, shape and space

¨ Measures: Length, mass and capacity

¨ Time:Digital, analogue, am and pm; timetables

¨ 2-D and 3-D shapes

Science

¨ Circuits and Conductors

¨ Habitats

¨ Friction

¨ Moving and Growing

¨ Separating Solids and Liquids

¨ Keeping Warm

Social Studies

Geography

¨ My school / My Town: (Local Study)

¨ Rivers

¨ Study of Desert - Egypt

¨ Case study on environment

History

¨ Local History (Herzogenaurach)

¨ Ancient Egyptians

¨ Ancient Greece

German

German as a first language

¨ Developing of speaking skills: Telling, reporting, describing, explaining, opinions, argumentation

¨ Reading for fluency and for facts

¨ Writing for a variety of purposes and audiences

¨ Features of German spelling

¨ Morphology

¨ Detailed parts of speech

Stress on reading of German children’s literature and poems

German as a second language

¨ Developing of speaking skills: Naming and describing of objects and activities, understanding instructions and answering questions, orientation in the school building and it’s surroundings, giving and getting pieces of information

¨ Vocabulary: Basic knowledge, spelling of words

¨ Reading for accuracy and fluency

¨ Grammar: Different types of sentences, cardinals, questions with "wie", negation

¨ Picture stories: Talking about pictures and persons; from guided writing to free writing

Personal / Social Education

¨ Safety

¨ Friendship

¨ Independence

¨ Fairness

¨ Problem solving

¨ Respecting others / property and self

Physical Education

¨ Development of gross and fine motor skills

¨ Basic Apparatus Gymnastics

¨ Team Games

¨ Improve self-confidence / appreciate and enjoy PE

Art & Technology

¨ Developing skills in the techniques of: Drawing, painting, printing, collage, fabric work and work in 3-D

¨ Continued work in the use of pattern, texture, colour, line, tone, shape, form

¨ Study of the work of chosen artists

¨ Computing

Music / Drama

¨ Songs

¨ Movement / Dance

¨ Singing Games

¨ Rhythm / Dynamics

¨ Percussion instruments

¨ Responding to Music

¨ Music Appreciation

Ethics

¨ Conflicts: Different ways of solving problems and conflicts; Making compromises

¨ Talking to each other: Discussing plans and problems

¨ Helping other people: There are people who need our help; Different ways of helping people

¨ Friends: Friends have to be valued