Learning Expectations
Third Grade

Language Arts

Reading :

• Uses a variety of decoding strategies
• Uses a variety of comprehension strategies
• Identifies story elements (character, setting, main events, problem, solution)
• Comprehends and understand the characteristics of a variety of genres (including mystery, realistic fiction, fables, and fantasy)
• Summarizes main idea and key points
• Makes text to text, text to self, and text to world connections
• Makes inferences
• Understands cause and effect relationships (Instructional only)

Writing:

• Writes informative pieces
• Writes expressive pieces
• Writes creative pieces
• Writes for a variety of audiences
• Applies the trait of idea in writing
• Applies the trait of organization in writing
• Applies the trait of word choice in writing
• Uses pre-writing strategies
• Revises own writing to improve idea, organization and word choice
• Edits own writing to improve capital letters, punctuation, spelling, and sentences
• Understands parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
• Uses parts of speech correctly (nouns, verbs)
• Writes in complete sentences
• Uses capitalization correctly (beginning of sentences, proper nouns)
• Uses punctuation correctly (period, questions marks, exclamation points)
• Spells high frequency words correctly
• Uses spelling strategies to spell unfamiliar words correctly

Speaking & Listening:

• Speaks clearly to a group
• Follows basic directions
• Comprehends oral communication
• Uses active listening behaviors
• Participates effectively in discussions

Research:

• Uses a variety of informational sources for research
• Organizes information during research

Mathematics

Problem Solving:

• Uses a variety of problem solving strategies for real world problems and situations
• Explains mathematical thinking in a variety of ways

Number Operations and Relationships:

• Understands relationships between numbers and sets (to 9,999)
• Understands and uses decimals (to hundredths place)
• Understands and uses fractions (with simple fractions and changing numerators)
• Understands place value (to 4-digits)
• Understands equivalent forms of fractions, decimals, and whole numbers
• Uses the skill of estimation
• Adds and subtracts whole numbers (3-digit numbers with re-grouping)
• Multiplies and divides whole numbers (single-digit numbers)
• Knows the multiplication and division facts
• Knows the relationship between the four operations
• Selects appropriate operation in problem solving situations
• Adds and subtracts fractions (with like denominators)

Geometry:

• Understands and recognizes two- and three-dimensional figures in the real world
• Understands the concepts of spatial sense (motion geometry, similarity)
• Understands characteristics of lines (parallel, perpendicular, intersecting)
• Understands coordinate geometry

Measurement:

• Measures length, height, and width (to ½ inch and centimeter)
• Measures liquid capacity and weight (in ounces, milliliters, pounds, grams)
• Measures temperature
• Measures time and money
• Converts units within the same system
• Calculates perimeter

Statistics and Probability:

• Collects, organizes and displays data in simple graph formats
• Reads and interprets data from simple graph formats
• Determines the range for a set of data

• Understands that future events are more, less, or equally likely, impossible, or certain to occur
• Conducts guided probability experiments

Algebraic Relationships:

• Solves for a variable in an equation
• Recognizes and extends number patterns and the relationship within them
• Understands a function describes a relationship of one quantity to another quantity when constant change occurs

Science

Plants:

• Knows how organisms respond to their environment (specifically plants)
• Knows the life cycle of a variety of organisms (specifically plants)
• Knows how people interact with the physical environment

Muscular and Skeletal Systems of the Human Body:

• Knows the basic systems of the human body (specifically skeletal and muscular systems)
• Knows how exercise has contributed to meeting personal needs

Matter and Energy:

• Knows the difference between matter and energy
• Knows how changes in energy have affected people
• Knows how science and technology have helped and/or hurt our way of life

Earth Studies:

• Knows the rock cycle and how various rocks are formed
• Knows how physical processes cause changes to the earth surfaces
• Knows the earth layers of the earth

Space and the Solar System:

• Knows the revolution of the moon
• Knows the causes of the seasons
• Knows the rotation and revolution of the earth
• Knows the relationship of the planets to each other and the sun
• Knows how patterns of stars stay constant, but their location changes constantly due to the earth’s revolution and rotation

Science Investigations:

• Uses the scientific method to conduct investigations ( P roblem – H ypothesis - E xperiment - O bservation - C onclusion)
• Uses simple science equipment safely and effectively
• Communicates observations and conclusions from scientific investigation
• Asks additional questions that might help focus or further an investigation
• Knows the difference between the three general areas of science- life, earth and physical sciences

Social Studies

Geography- Map Skills:

• Locates places and features on a variety of maps and globes
• Ordinal directions, map grids, latitude, longitude, compass rose
• Creates maps
• Knows the relative location of the continents, major bodies of water and mountain ranges
• Seven continents, four oceans, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, Mississippi River

Local Government:

• Knows how rules are developed, enforced, and changed
• Knows the purpose of government
• Knows how people participate in civic activity
• Understands how there can be diverse viewpoints on an issue
• Knows the difference between private and public goods and services
• Knows the reasons that individuals respond differently to different situations

People of Wisconsin:

• Knows important people in Wisconsin and United States history
• Uses a historical timeline
• Gather information from a variety of sources
• Knows how various sources of information are used to construct an understanding of the past (Instructional Only)

Native American Tribes of Wisconsin:

• Knows the history and culture of the American Indian tribes of Wisconsin
• Knows that people have different values and beliefs
• Understands how life today is alike and different from life of the past

Individual Learning and Self:

• Knows the factors that influence individual learning

Our Economy:

• Knows the purpose of banks in a community
• Understands the decisions consumers can make
• Knows how personal economic decisions affect the lives of others
• Knows the economic roles of various institutions