A Look at… Third Grade in California Public Schools and the Common Core State Standards CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES DIVISION INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING SUPPORT BRANCH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION October 2011 Edition Contents Page Third-Grade Curriculum .................................................................................................................................. 3.1 English Language Arts ...................................................................................................................................... 3.2 Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 3.2 What Third-Grade Students Should Know ...................................................................................................... 3.2 What Students Learn in Third Grade ............................................................................................................... 3.3 Reading ........................................................................................................................................................ 3.3 Writing ......................................................................................................................................................... 3.5 Speaking and Listening ................................................................................................................................ 3.5 Language ...................................................................................................................................................... 3.6 Extra Support for Struggling Readers .............................................................................................................. 3.7 Support for English Learners ........................................................................................................................... 3.8 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 3.13 Mathematics ..................................................................................................................................................... 3.21 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 3.21 What Third-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................... 3.21 What Students Learn in Third Grade ............................................................................................................. 3.22 Operations and Algebraic Thinking ........................................................................................................... 3.22 Number and Operations in Base Ten ......................................................................................................... 3.22 Number and Operations—Fractions .......................................................................................................... 3.23 Measurement and Data .............................................................................................................................. 3.23 Geometry .................................................................................................................................................... 3.23 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 3.24 Transition to the Common Core State Standards ........................................................................................... 3.24 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 3.28 CCSS Domains .......................................................................................................................................... 3.33 History–Social Science ..................................................................................................................................... 3.34 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 3.34 What Third-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................... 3.34 What Students Learn in Third Grade ............................................................................................................. 3.35 i Geography of the Local Region ................................................................................................................. 3.35 American Indians of the Local Region ...................................................................................................... 3.35 Development of the Local Community: Change Over Time..................................................................... 3.35 American Citizens, Symbols, and Government ......................................................................................... 3.36 Economics of the Local Region: Choices, Costs, and Human Capital ...................................................... 3.37 The Education and the Environment Initiative .............................................................................................. 3.37 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 3.38 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 3.38 Science ............................................................................................................................................................... 3.42 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 3.42 What Third-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................... 3.42 What Students Learn in Third Grade ............................................................................................................. 3.43 Physical Sciences (Energy and Matter) ..................................................................................................... 3.43 Physical Sciences (Light) ........................................................................................................................... 3.43 Life Sciences .............................................................................................................................................. 3.44 Earth Sciences ............................................................................................................................................ 3.44 Investigation and Experimentation ............................................................................................................ 3.44 The Education and the Environment Initiative .............................................................................................. 3.45 Science Across the Content Areas ................................................................................................................. 3.45 Support for English Learners ......................................................................................................................... 3.46 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 3.46 Visual and Performing Arts ............................................................................................................................ 3.49 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 3.49 What Third-Grade Students Should Know .................................................................................................... 3.49 What Students Learn in Third Grade ............................................................................................................. 3.49 Dance ......................................................................................................................................................... 3.49 Music .......................................................................................................................................................... 3.50 Theatre ....................................................................................................................................................... 3.50 Visual Arts ................................................................................................................................................. 3.50 The Standards................................................................................................................................................. 3.51 Key Content Standards .............................................................................................................................. 3.51 Health ...............................................................................................................................................................