3rd Grade

Why Families Love 3rd Grade at Camellia

3rd Grade builds on the foundation of the earlier grades while giving children the practical tools and inner reassurance they need at this key developmental milestone.

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What sets our 3rd Grade apart:

• In-Depth Block Learning
  Each morning begins with a two-hour main lesson block when students are most attentive. Blocks last 3–4 weeks and focus on core subjects like math, science, language arts, history, and geography, allowing deep, immersive learning.

• Balanced Rhythm with Nature & Recess
  Academic work is balanced with recess and time in nature, so students move, breathe, and process what they’re learning.

• Truly Age-Appropriate Homework
  Homework supports the learning without overwhelming the child or family, leaving room for play, rest, and home life.

• Long-Term Teacher Relationships
  Teachers often stay with the same class for multiple years, allowing deep connection, trust, and more in-depth learning for each child.

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A Bit About 3rd Grade: The Nine-Year Change

Third grade is often described as the “Turning Point of Childhood.” The dreamy, early-childhood feeling gives way to a new sense of realism. Children may experience self-doubt, big questions, and a new awareness of separation from their parents.

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The 3rd Grade curriculum is crafted to reassure, ground, and empower children at this stage:

• Creation Stories & Hebrew Narratives
  The class teacher brings Hebrew stories and other creation legends—from life in the Garden of Eden to expulsion from paradise and the human task of working with the gifts of the Earth to make food, clothing, and shelter.
  These stories echo the child’s inner experience: “Others have walked this path before me. I am not alone.”

• Practical Life Skills
  Third graders are eager to “get to work” and use their hands. They study and build shelters, learn about farming and agriculture, explore time and measurement, work with fibers and clothing, and cook regularly in class.

• Real-World Connection
  Students visit working farms and engage in campus and garden work, deepening their understanding of what it takes to grow food and care for the land.

This is also the year they write and present their first paper—on a shelter— giving them a sense of academic and personal accomplishment.

3rd Grade Learning Objectives

Main Lesson Skills

• Continuing to develop good classroom behavior and responsibility

• Strengthening listening and communication skills

• Building confidence and a positive self-image through meaningful work and participation

Language Arts

Third graders deepen their literacy skills through story-based work:

• Further development of cursive writing

• Introduction to grammar: sentence structure, verbs, nouns, adjectives

• Writing simple sentences and paragraphs based on main lesson themes

• Spelling with early rules and familiar word patterns

Literature

• Hebrew stories as part of ancient history

• Other creation stories and legends from around the world that explore origins, work, and belonging

Mathematics

Math in 3rd Grade is closely tied to real-life applications:

• Continued practice with the four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

• Measurement: dry, linear, liquid, weight, and money

• Carrying and borrowing

• Estimation, long multiplication, and long division 

Science (Practical Life & Nature Studies)

Science is grounded in climate, land, and practical work:

• Introduction to climate studies and the cycles of the year

• House-building through history: from cliff, lake, and tent dwellers to modern houses made of wood, brick, and stone

• Practical work on campus and in the school garden

• Study of soils, farm life, grains, and root, leaf, and stem vegetables

• Cooking in class, connecting food, math, and science in a tangible way

Foreign Language (Spanish)

Spanish lives in the classroom through:

• Songs, dance, poetry, and stories

• Introduction of color and action words

• Cultural art projects and crafts that bring the language to life

Form Drawing

• Exploration of the Hebrew alphabet

• Vertical symmetry forms

• Forms of metamorphosis, supporting flexibility in thinking and spatial awareness

Art

• Beeswax modeling that engages touch and form

• Watercolor painting that reflects main lesson themes

• Drawing that deepens observation, imagination, and fine motor skills

Music

• Continued work with pentatonic flute

• Introduction of diatonic flute

• Music notation is introduced

• Singing and performing at annual school concerts 

Handwork

• Knitting and crochet projects

• Creating practical items such as purses and animals, fostering patience, coordination, and a sense of accomplishment

Physical Education & Movement

• Ring games, line games, work games, cooperative games, and ball-tossing games

• Activities that build coordination, teamwork, and joy in movement

FESTIVALS

Life in the Wider School Community -

1st Grade students are part of Camellia’s vibrant festival life and community traditions, giving them a sense of belonging and connection beyond their own classroom. Families are invited into seasonal celebrations and school events that mark the turning of the year.

👉 You can learn more about our seasonal festivals on our Festivals page.