In Grade 3, both the Language and Mathematics programs at King’s Town School provide students with a solid foundation in the basics. The spelling program follows a phonics based approach, which includes a wide variety of activities and plenty of practice in spelling concepts, vocabulary work, dictionary skills and focused writing lessons. The children are taught about different writing styles and forums and are encouraged to write creatively in assignments such as writing a newspaper article, a diary account, a fairy tale or a detective mystery, to name but a few.

We also encourage our Grade 3 students to use their letter writing skills practically and often forge links with other schools to create an inter-school pen pal correspondence; sometimes the students even choose one of our international schools to link to, creating many interesting discussions in the classroom about similarities of schools and classes around the world, occasionally (time zones permitting) leading to web based links from classroom to classroom where the class can communicate in real time with the associated school. Our literacy program also incorporates many poetry and novel studies, with both contemporary and classic books, such as Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater.

The math program is incremental in nature and encompasses all strands of mathematics in each lesson, giving students many opportunities to practice, review and demonstrate their learning. Numerous and varied hands on learning experiences, cross curricular activities and relatable real world experiences are built into units in all subject areas whenever possible.

Science continues to be one of the most popular lessons, where students get a practical feel for the theory that they learn. Some of the most popular scientific activities the Grade 3 students enjoy are the live worm exhibit, soil investigations, and the experience of growing a variety of different types of plants in the classroom.

In social studies the Grade 3 students learn all about the pioneers and how families lived in Canada over 100 years ago. This unit culminates with a visit to Upper Canada Village, where the students get a taste for what life was really like, even down to wearing appropriate clothing for the period. The students have to attend a traditional school house, the girls learn how to sew and bake bread in the traditional manner and the boys learn skills such as how to be a tin smith and how to make cheese.

In Phys. Ed. Grade 3 is the starting year for any students who wish to participate in the inter-school cross country competition and many take this very seriously, attending the offered cross-country clubs twice a week. Skills continue to be developed across all of the key sports and team games are regularly played throughout the seasons.