3rd Grade
Westbury Christian’s Elementary Program consists of grades 2, 3, and 4. Our Christian teachers are trained to teach from a holisitic, Christ-centered curriculum that provides an enriched learning experience to enhance the child’s age appropriate development. Our elementary program is designed to help your child think critically and apply their learning in in cross-curricular ways. Our teachers will guide students in the transition from learning how to read into reading to learn and becoming more responsible and mature learners. Your child will develop life skills through enriching experiences with Bible, music, art, PE, and library and teacher-directed lessons that emphasize mastery and deep reflection. Technology is incorporated into the classroom and teachers use a variety of assessments and instructional strategies to support your student’s needs. Our goal is to foster the individual growth of each child spiritually, socially, academically and physically.
BIBLE AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Bible study and prayer is a very important time for our third graders. The Bible is interwoven into all curriculum areas. Using Deep Roots, third graders focus on the Old Testament, specifically God’s promises to Israel. Students are encouraged to apply Biblical lessons to their own lives and spend time reviewing character traits such as kindness, patience and responsibility. Students participate in Lower School Chapel and House Meetings each week. They also join K-12th grade students in All School Chapel several times throughout the year.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The third grade social studies curriculum is Studies Weekly, which focuses on American history, including explorers and inventors. They learn more about communities in addition to how business and marketing principles support our country. Third graders also discuss how to be good citizens in an ever-changing society.
SCIENCE
The third grade science curriculum is designed for students to see God’s handiwork in His creation. Students plan and implement investigations to collect information using tools such as microscopes. Third graders also make inferences, communicate conclusions, and make informed decisions. Students identify the importance of components of the natural world including rocks, soil, water, atmospheric gases, and forces that change Earth. Students also explore magnetism, gravity, needs of organisms, habitats, and competition within an ecosystem.
MATHEMATICS
The third grade mathematics curriculum is Texas Go Math. The goal of third grade mathematics is to strengthen the foundation of addition, subtraction and multiplication problems so students are able to move on to solve more complex problems. Additional emphasis is placed on the connection of fractional models to symbols. Students use estimation and mathematical reasoning to solve real-world problems and are able to rationalize and communicate decisions effectively. Throughout the year, the students evaluate, adapt, and select appropriate strategies, vocabulary, and tools to solve problems.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The Savvas MyView curriculum focuses on the following areas: reading, grammar, writing skills, and vocabulary. Students will spend significant blocks of time reading and writing independently. Students practice and review vocabulary, listening skills, critical thinking skills and analyzing different types of literature. Students learn how to develop, improve, and edit their creative writing. Games, contests, and review exercises are used daily to create a fun approach to spelling. Dictionary skills, writing skills, and word usage skills are used each week to review concepts that are taught in grammar and reading. Students complete several novel studies including Lemonade War, The One and Only Ivan and Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.
