GRADE THREE

In Grade Three, children begin to experience themselves as individuals and wrestle with the question “Who am I?” They are also beginning to understand that, one day, they will leave the parental nest and make their own way in the world. At this age, children start to challenge the limits of authority and attempt to take more responsibility for themselves. To meet this growing awareness of self-sufficiency with strength and ability, children are challenged to build practical skills through activities such as gardening and cooking in addition to their academic pursuits. This learning cumulates in a Harvest Feast grown and cooked by the children of Grade Three for their parents.

The curriculum for Grade Three focuses on:

Language Arts

• Writing
• Reading
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Speech Formation
• Dramatics

Creation stories from different cultures and stories from the Old Testament provide engaging narratives that speak to the internal life and external struggles of the child at this age. Cursive writing is practised, parts of speech are analyzed and spelling receives much attention.

Mathematics

• All Four Operations (addition, subtraction, division, multiplication)
• Geometric Movement
• Building and Measurement

Arithmetic becomes practical, applied to real life situations such as measuring, weighing, cooking and money. The children continue to practise the four arithmetical operations and work with the higher multiplication tables. They also do more advanced work with carrying and borrowing, charts, data collection and problem solving.

Natural Sciences

• Nature Study
• Gardening
• Farming
• Cooking

At this time when the children feel themselves becoming separate individuals from the world around them, farming and gardening not only provide a practical foundation for scientific exploration, but draw the children back into working as a community on realistic projects that bring them closer to the earth.

Social Sciences and Pre-History

• Hebrew Scriptures
• Old Testament Stories
• Study of Practical life
• Pioneer Life

In the ninth-year transition from dreamy awareness to awakening realism, social studies are introduced and children learn how the kingdoms of nature mutually support and complete one another. They visit a farm for a concrete experience of the dependence of humans on plants and animals and they study shelter and house building, contrasting their homes with those of other times, peoples and climates.

Second Languages

• French
• German

Fine Arts

• Watercolour Painting
• Form and Freehand Drawing
• Beeswax Modelling
• Class Play

Handwork

• Knitting
• Sewing
• Crochet

Music

• Soprano Recorder
• Singing

Physical Education

• Eurythmy
• Cooperative Games
• Day Hikes