NOTE: This is a compilation of skills and facts a child should be able to complete and understand at the end of third grade. The list of skill sets here will be learned during the third grade year.

Language Arts

Art

• Learning more artistic techniques like adding more details
• Learn about the use of light in their art
• Learn about subjects of art (portrait, still life, seascape, landscape)
• Expanding their art into things like ceramics, origami, weaving, or jewelry-making
• Continue to learn about well-known works of art and artists

Music

• Learn and develop understanding of pitch, melody and rhythm
• Sing, play instruments, and explore creative movement
• Continue to learn about famous musicians
• Develop recognition of musical notation
• Practice drawing treble clef symbol, staff and other musical symbols

Reading

• Read grade-level text with appropriate pace, accuracy, expression, and understanding
• Read multi-syllable and grade-appropriate, irregularly spelled words
• Self-corrects mistakes and re-reads when necessary
• Talks about and answers questions about a text using specific examples from the text and connects different parts of a text
• Reads a variety of texts including, fiction, non-fiction, fables, and poetry
• Understands and talks about main ideas from text and lessons
• Begins to understand the difference between literal and non-literal text such as metaphors and analogies
• Uses the text and context to determine the meaning of words
• Able to express their own point of view about characters or a text
• Makes comparisons between books written by the same author and books in series that are about the same characters

Spelling

• Words that include blends (agree, choose, and half)
• Words beginning with qu (queen and quilt)
• Consonant doubling words (pretty, hopped)
• Learn homophones like pail and pale

Writing & Grammar

• Expands on abilities learned in second grade
• Writes a variety of texts (opinion, narrative, informative)
• Use of transition terms (first, second, last) and connection words (because, for example, also)
• Plans, revises, and edits their writing
• Begins to use digital tools (typing up their stories, texts)
• Works on research based writing, taking notes for reports/projects
• Can quickly work through simple writing pieces, and can also spend the time needed for longer writing projects

Mathematics

Fractions

• Can identify a shaded fraction within a shape and write it correctly
• Compare simple fractions with less than, greater than, or equal to signs
• Can add and subtract fractions
• Can add and subtract mixed numbers
• Understanding fractions as numbers that represent part of a whole
• Placing fractions on a number line
• Find equivalent fractions
• Comparing two fractions with the same numerator or denominator

Geometry

• Can identify and name a point
• Can identify and name a line segment
• Can identify and name a line
• Can identify and name a ray
• Can identify and name parallel lines
• Can identify and name perpendicular lines
• Can identify and name an acute angle
• Can identify and name an obtuse angle
• Can identify and name a right angle
• Can identify and name all basic 2D shapes including: square, triangle, trapezoid, rhombus, parallelogram, rectangle
• Can identify 3D shapes by name
• Finding the perimeter and area of a rectangle

Graphs

• Creating graphs to understand and solve word problems

Measurement

• Knows common conversions: 12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard

Money

• Can multiply an amount of money by a one-digit number: $4.68 x 3

Numbers & Counting

• Understands the concept of counting into the hundred thousands

Operations: Addition & Subtraction

• Add & subtract seven digit numbers: 7,623,989 – 2,534,082 = 5,089,907
• Continue to work on word problems, increasing in steps
• Understands order of operations

Operations: Multiplication & Division

• Know multiplication tables from 1 x 1 to 12 x 12 by heart
• Multiplying and dividing with numbers up to 100
• Can multiply a two, three, or four-digit number by a one-digit number: 8,000 x 3 or 234 x 2
• Continue to work on word problems, increasing in steps
• Understands order of operations

Place Value

• Understands place value to the millions place

Rounding

• Can round numbers to the hundred thousands place

Time

• Knows the difference between AM and PM
• Can tell time to the minute
• Can draw the face on a clock for given times: 11:43, 3:16, etc..
• Understands elapsed time
• Understands time expressions and can figure out the time: ten til three is 2:50, twenty after 4 is 4:20

Other Suggested Subjects

Geography & Social Studies

• Basic understanding of a map (directions, borders, longitude and latitude lines, the equator, and the North and South Poles)
• Know major land forms, water, climate, and weather
• Recognize geographic features (islands, peninsulas, continents, forests, etc.)
• Learn of other cultures meeting basic needs and how cultures change
• Know how methods of travel changed throughout time

History

• Introduce key historical figures
• Learn about pilgrims/immigrants arriving to the New World
• Research and explore the thirteen colonies
• Learn about Native Americans
• Learn about government

Science

• Learn about natural systems (sun, Earth, moon)
• Learn about astronomy and space
• Recognize and know solid, gas, and lidquid
• Observe behaviors of sound and light
• Make smart predictions about an experiment
• Classifying animals (vertebrates vs. invertebrates, warm-blooded vs. cold-blooded)
• Learn about the human body
• Forces and motion
• Using the scientific process (five senses to gather information, ask questions, plan, investigate, measure, etc.)

Social Development & Behavior

• Ability to understand others opinions and points of view increase
• Ability to use and understand more complex language
• Influence of peers is higher in this age range
• Able to handle more responsibilities in home, school, and with peers
• More aware of social circles and cliques
• Able to read others facial expressions and body language better
• Able to show empathy better
• Read more about the development of third-graders

Additional Resources & Sources:

Check out government standards for your state

TGTB has LA placement and a math placement test. While it does go along with their curriculum, it also can help you identify where your child needs more work. You can also learn more about TGTB.

Sources: Scholastic, Math Genie, Great Schools