Grade Three
Grade Three is typically a time when children go through profound neurological and psychological shifts that occur between 9-10 years of age. We refer to this time as the 'nine year change'.
- The Grade 3 curriculum brings a healing element to the psychological uncertainty the child feels at this time by teaching many practical life skills. These skills reassure the children that they will be able to take care of themselves one day.
- The stories in the Hebrew Scriptures reflect the child’s psychological experience. Like Adam and Eve, the children are leaving the paradise of childhood behind and having to go out into the world and discover how to live with other people and with the land.
- The study of gardening and shelters around the world meets the students’ needs to relate concretely how they will make it one day on their own. Farming, gardening, food preparation and house building are a central focus of the curriculum.
- planting and harvesting in the school garden
- daily collection of compost throughout the school to feed the garden
- baking and canning produce from the garden
- a 3-day, 2-night visit to a working farm
- study of shelter through the ages, around the world
- influences of climate, environment
- location and designs of dwelling
- and sometimes, a small building project
- Measurement and its evolution: taking measure of the world gives the children the confidence that they can manage it. The learn how to measure - from a day’s journey to the king’s thumb width (which became our ‘inch’ measure!). Measuring length, width, weight and volume, charting time and handling money, all are important skills to possess.
Main Lesson Subjects
- Literacy, basic elements of grammar, introduction of cursive writing
- Arithmetic (long division & multiplication, add and subtract columns)
- Measurement, time, money
- Farming, gardening and house building
- Hebrew stories and other wonder tales
- Optional class play relating to the curriculum