Bible
Third grade uses Building on the Rock Bible Curriculum, published by Summit Ministries. Building on the Rock lays the groundwork for worldview education. This innovative Christian elementary school Bible curriculum is the first truly integrated biblical worldview and Bible survey course of its kind. Students learn to view the world through four distinct relationships with the Creator, with each other, with themselves, and with His creation. Building on the Rock is constructed in a spiral sequence, built around twenty biblical truths found throughout Scripture. Through this framework, students begin seeing all of reality from a biblical viewpoint. They stop seeing the Bible as just a book of unique stories and start seeing Scripture as the litmus test for every idea they encounter. Students start “connecting the dots” between what they find in Scripture and how they should think and live. Engaging activities across all curriculum subjects and utilizing the Socratic Method help shape students’ spiritual formation and instill a confident faith. Students will learn to know, love and trust God’s Word.
Language Arts
Reading
Reading is the foundation upon which much of the 3rd grade curriculum rests. Third grade uses the curriculum BJU Press textbooks. It is a comprehensive reading program. The BJU Press elementary reading program challenges students to engage with what they read. Literature—whether it is fiction, nonfiction, drama, or poetry—enables people to consider, make sense of, celebrate, lament, and even change the world. We want students to enjoy reading all types of literature so that they will become lifelong readers. We also want them to analyze, interpret, and evaluate everything they read from a biblical worldview. More than any other people, Christians should value reading because God reveals Himself to His people through a book. In addition to helping us know God, reading skills also prepare us to be better servants of Christ. The apostle Paul lays out for us the standard by which Christians should measure what they read: things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and commendable (Phil. 4:8). In other words, we should read that which conveys truth, goodness, and beauty. They participate in class directed literature studies and take part in numerous book reports throughout the year. Students also have small groups and individualized instruction to address specific needs and abilities. Included in this small group time is a novel study where each group reads a novel based on their leveled reading abilities. Students are also required to participate weekly in an Accelerated Reading (AR) program. This program has students reading books at their independent reading levels and taking periodic quizzes over these books. The AR program’s goals are to create a love of reading and increase reading comprehension skills.
Spelling
Spelling is a fundamental skill in written communication. We use Spalding’s Writing Road to Reading, a total language arts program, integrating essential research-based components, an educational philosophy, and a methodology consisting of time-tested principles of learning and instruction. The Spalding Method is: Explicit, Sequential, Multisensory, and Diagnostic. Students learn the purpose for every task and are active participants throughout Spalding lessons. Daily observations and assessments enable teachers to tailor instruction to meet each child’s individual needs: English Language Learners of all ages, Special Needs Students and Gifted. Thus, differentiated instruction is embedded in The Spalding Method. Spalding teachers believe that students’ physical and mental well-being is a primary concern and that all children can learn.
Grammar/Writing
Using the BJU Grammar curriculum students gain a strong writing foundation comprised of grammar skills and writing development. Grammar Skills, the first grammar chapter, provides a foundation in sentence structure and the following chapters methodically introduce each part of speech. The writing process used in every writing chapter is plan, draft, revise, proofread, and publish. The careful explanation of the steps and involvement of peers and teachers through collaboration helps students strengthen and refine their writing skills. The thorough step-by-step instruction and frequent review reinforces grammatical concepts. Research Students will learn how to conduct short research projects and take notes on the information. The Study and Research chapter was updated to include accessing and discerning reliable online sources, learning about internet safety and electronic catalogs. Biblical Worldview shaping the themes of friendship, authority, work, celebration, and people are used to address areas of a student’s life where they frequently communicate. These themes help cultivate an appreciation for the power of language and guidance for using communication to serve others.
Handwriting
Long proven to be a fundamental part of any language arts curriculum, handwriting instruction builds communication skills for a lifetime. Third grade uses A Reason for Handwriting to Develop Fluency: connecting letters to increase speed of writing improves attention span and fosters academic performance. Third graders continue to build on their introduction to cursive writing and strive for proficiency.
Public Speaking
Scottsdale Christian Academy believes in building student confidence and communication skills early in their education by providing students numerous public speaking opportunities. Students from K-5th grade are given classroom oral reports several times a year, with the additional possibility to publicly address the entire elementary student body in Chapel. With the new global, technologically advanced society surrounding our youth today, SCA believes it is imperative, more than ever, to provide a foundation and enable students to cultivate public speaking at an early age. Expressing thoughts and ideas still remain the cornerstone in any profession or relationship. Development of public communication skills early in life allows students to position themselves for optimal success.
Literature
Research has demonstrated that children’s literature produces benefits to the development of language and, thus, literacy. Critical thinking is enhanced, as is the students’ engagement in their learning. The rich variety of children’s literature offered in 3rd grade not only stimulates language growth, and thus increases the learners’ communication skills, but is also developmentally appropriate, well-written, and appealing to the students.
Math
EnVision Math 2.0 (Pearson) is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for Grades K-5. It is organized to develop mathematical content connections with built-in connections across lessons, across topics, across strands, and across grades. When students connect ideas, they deepen their understanding. EnVision 2.0 is organized into clusters of connected topics and lessons. Students learn to see relationships, ask questions, and try different approaches. Since the goal and promise of enVision Math 2.0 is to develop understanding, the math practices are infused in all aspects of the program. Finally, enVision Math 2.0 grows from the organization of the program and the core instructional model used daily. However, there are many other elements that contribute to making enVision Math 2.0 is a high-quality curriculum. Throughout the program, students at every grade level will make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. enVision Math 2.0 provides a wide variety of differentiation resources and strategies. Tiered activities, learning centers, flexible grouping, and technology help accommodate learning styles and readiness. enVision Math 2.0 also allows students and parents to access online tools from the math curriculum. This online suite allows students and parents access to lessons, practice, videos, and assessments.
History
Heritage Studies 3: World Regions introduces students to the cultures of the world with an active, visually engaging study of the major world regions. In studying new cultures, students will explore the governments, geography, climates, economics, cultures, and religions of each region. Special features highlighting folktale, foreign languages, and missionary stories bring other cultures and locations to life.
Research Skills
Students in 3rd grade visit the library once per week for research skills class. Research skills classes focus on using grade specific critical thinking skills to discover facts and information through the use of online and bound reference materials and library resources. Research is integrated with classroom curriculum and topics. Critical thinking skills are also developed via genre and author studies.
Science
Students use the Purposeful Design Science Series which weaves together the wonders of the created world and a Biblical worldview. The National Science Education Standards specify content requirements for each grade which are fully met in this series. Additionally, students gain proficiency in using the scientific method and a variety of technical resources to conduct scientific investigations. Students in Third Grade will study: Life Science (Ecosystems, Plant Life), Physical Science (Matter, Motion and Force, Electricity, Magnets), Human Body (The Musculoskeletal System, Nervous System, Health), and Earth and Space Science (Rocks and Soils, The Earth’s Surface and Its Changes, Solar System, Stars and Constellations).
Art
Students in 3rd grade attend art class once per week. They work on adding more detail to their drawing skills. They are instructed in portraiture and begin to develop a keen eye for the angles, lines and structure in the human face. They learn about the concepts of foreground, middle ground and background as they begin simple landscapes. Architectural shapes are identified and new mediums are used. They learn about 3-dimensional shapes by introducing sculpture of the human form. They continue this study in order to learn about proportion and movement. More responsibility is handed over for cleanup and maintenance of the materials. Third graders continue their study of master artists through the Art Masterpiece program. It is a national art enrichment project that uses reproductions of fine works of art to promote art literacy in children. Parent volunteers bring the prints to the classroom and present a lesson planned for 3rd grade. Art Masterpiece lessons are taught approximately six times per school year. They usually consist of a “hands-on” project. The purpose of the lesson is to increase the child’s awareness of art. As this occurs, students are able to recognize more of the art that they encounter in their world every day.
Music
Students in 3rd grade attend music class twice per week. SCA’s music program focuses on creating a love and awareness of music in daily life. Children are encouraged to have a heart for worship and glorifying God while learning music from around the world. Basic note reading, rhythms and vocal pitches are also taught through dance and games. Student objectives are based on National Music Standards and SCA values.
Technology
Students in 3rd grade attend computer class twice per week. The technology program focuses on higher order skills and curriculum integration with classroom topics and activities. Computers are used to reinforce the curriculum and provide both guided and independent practice. Student objectives are based on the Arizona Technology Standards and SCA technology goals.
Spanish
Students in 3rd grade go to Spanish class once per week. Students will be able to: respond to classroom commands, recognize vocabulary related to seasons, colors, days of the week, months of the year, food, clothing, parts of the body, classroom, family members; compliment another person’s efforts: express gratitude and respond to expressions of gratitude, recite a poem or sing a song; color the countries where Spanish is spoken on a map of the world; comprehend weather terms; solve basic math concepts; compare the vowel system between Spanish and English.
Innovation & Creation Hub
Each elementary homeroom class visits the Innovation and Creation HUB once a week. Students focus on STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Students are provided with hands-on learning with activities centered around the problem solving method of Ask, Discuss, Design, Create, Test and Revise. Activities are determined by the curricular units being studied in homeroom classes and are designed for age-appropriate learning. Students are encouraged to take risks whether it is designing a Moon Lander, coding a robot to engage in a specific task, or designing a piece to be 3D printed. In the HUB students embrace the four C’s: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. These four C’s are crucial to fostering innovators and leaders of the 21st century.
Physical Education