This grade level brochure is designed to provide you with an overview of the challenging curriculum we offer our students. It identifies key curriculum concepts for 3rd grade but it is not meant to be all-inclusive.
Mission Statement
Epiphany Catholic School provides a student-focused, standards-driven, and secure educational environment, based upon the Gospel values, that promotes the spiritual, emotional, moral, intellectual, and physical development of all students.
Religion & Character Formation
- Foster the virtues of kindness, respect, optimism, generosity, honesty, prudence, patience, responsibility and morality.
- Discuss the lives of the saints.
- Prepare for and participate in liturgical celebrations (weekly masses, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, Reconciliation, Feast of Corpus Christi and visits to the Blessed Sacrament).
- Discuss God’s greatness and love.
- Locate chapters and verses in both the Old and New Testament.
Language Arts – Language
- Write correct letters in D’Nealian cursive as taught.
- Use correct punctuation and spacing in writing.
- Create paragraphs that include a variety of sentence types.
- Develop a topic sentence with supporting details for a paragraph.
- Write for a variety of purposes (entertain, persuade, inform).
- Identify and explain the functions of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
- Gather, organize, and present information using current technology.
- Develop writing by making use of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, conferencing, rewriting, and publishing).
Language Arts – Reading
- Compare and contrast story characters, setting, plots, conflicts, themes, and resolutions using text connections to other texts, personal experiences, and real world situations.
- Ask and respond to questions using details to better understand a text.
- Read and comprehend many forms of literature including stories, dramas, and poetry.
- Read multiple pieces from the same author and look for similarities.
- Provide written reflections about reading providing specific details.
- Participate in discussions within literature circles.
- Read age-appropriate material aloud with fluency, expression, and accuracy.
- Identify literary genres.
- Develop the following reading skills: predicting outcomes, inference, author’s viewpoint, fact vs. opinion, compare and contrast, sequencing, expression, and context clues.
Mathematics
- Write, identify and demonstrate knowledge of numbers up to six-digits.
- Write, identify and demonstrate knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts inside 100.
- Understand properties and relationships between multiplication and division.
- Develop understanding of fractions as numbers.
- Identify and compare whole numbers and fractions using the symbols and words for <, > or =.
- Solve one and two-step problems with whole numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
- Identify the unknown value in number sentences.
- Solve real world and mathematical problems with area, perimeter, capacity, mass, and time.
- Measure objects and line segments in fractions of an inch.
- Construct and interpret graphs, tables, and charts.
- Show evidence that computational work is correct and that estimates are reasonable.
Science
- Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text.
- Use text features and search tools to locate information.
- Report and display the results of individual and group investigations.
- Use print, non-print, human and technological resources to acquire and use information.
- Identify and describe characteristics of the sun, Earth, moon and planets in our solar system.
- Explain daily, seasonal and annual patterns related to the Earth’s rotation and revolution.
- Identify and explain the water cycle, rock cycle and weather patterns.
- Differentiate between fast and slow changes to Earth’s structure.
- Describe how living things depend on one another in a given ecosystem.
- Create models of ecosystems displaying animals, plants, and land features.
- Describe simple life cycles of animals and the similarities and differences in their offspring.
Social Studies
- Construct short research projects demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
- Compare and contrast the characteristics of rural, suburban and urban communities.
- Explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources.
- Identify the different levels and roles of government (local, state and national).
- Identify concepts of responsible citizenship (respect for the law, patriotism, civility and working with others).
- Explain the relationship between the quantity of goods/services purchased and their price.
- Identify key founders, features and symbols of Illinois.
- Demonstrate knowledge of cardinal and intermediate directions.
- Interpret different types of maps.
Foreign Language – Spanish
- Read, write, and communicate numbers 1-31 in Spanish.
- Read, write and communicate simple questions and answers in Spanish.
- Recognize differences in number and gender of words in written examples.
- Sing and play simple songs and games in Spanish.
- Pray simple Catholic prayers in Spanish.
Computer
- Identify home row keys and demonstrate appropriate posture for keyboarding.
- Practice responsible use of computers and apply guidelines of acceptable use policy.
- Use word processor/formatting toolbars and graphic organizers for learning tasks.
- Introduce how to insert/import images, manipulate objects and graphics.
- Use a web browser to navigate the Internet and introduce basic web browsing vocabulary.
- Employ technology tools to gather, organize, create and present information (present PowerPoint presentations using an interactive whiteboard).
- Use teacher selected Internet resources to complete assigned tasks.
- Use software which emphasizes problem solving strategies and promotes creative thinking.
- Introduce the principles of coding using the drag and drop approach.
Fine Arts – Art
- Use the principles and elements of design in 1-point perspective (line, movement, space).
- Describe and identify different uses (color variety, tools, materials and techniques) in a work of art.
- Demonstrate and use art techniques (painting, sculpture, and drawing).
- Identify basic art elements and design principles in a variety of artwork.
Fine Arts – Music
- Play classroom instruments, sing, and dance.
- Visually identify orchestra instruments.
- Read and write rhythms using quarter, eighth, half, whole, and sixteenth notes.
- Read and play pitches using musical notation on the treble clef.
- Create short melodies, rhythms and movements within guidelines.
- Demonstrate, identify, and describe elements of music using traditional music vocabulary (tempo, dynamics, pitch, form).
Fine Arts – Choir
- Demonstrate good vocal technique.
- Demonstrate proper performance behavior.
- Read traditional music notation.
Physical Education & Health
- Identify and demonstrate the safety procedures needed in games and fitness activities.
- Choose and complete various activities to promote personal fitness and health.
- Recognize dangerous symptoms in physical activities (shortness of breath, dizziness).
Resource
Epiphany School offers assistance with a variety of skills and in all academic areas for students with a demonstrated need. The Epiphany Resource Program collaborates with Unit 5 to meet the needs of these students. Contact the Epiphany Resource teacher regarding any educational concerns in the following areas: academic evaluations, speech and language development, motor skills, and behavioral, health, vision, hearing, and social/emotional concerns.