Welcome to 3rd Grade!

My name is Mrs. Andrea Lyons.  I began teaching 3rd grade at St. Frances Cabrini School in 1996. I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a safe, compassionate, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my desire to help students meet their fullest potential.

Child Development

Spiritual

Third-grade students continue to need guidance in their faith life.

•  Prayer comes naturally; enjoys ceremony and ritual

•  Interprets Bible and other stories literally but cannot derive symbolic meaning

•  Comfortable with formal and spontaneous prayer

•  Awareness of the Church is limited to his or her experiences at home and in the parish

•  Imagines God as a human person

Social/Emotional

The third-grade student grows more independent, both socially and emotionally throughout the year.

•  More independence from parents and family and more attention to friendships and teamwork

•  Stronger sense of right and wrong

•  Beginning awareness of the future

•  Growing understanding about one’s place in the world

Physical

3rd graders…

•  Have better control of large muscles than small muscles and are mastering their physical skills.

•  Enjoy testing muscle strength, skills, and coordination.

Classroom Highlights

• Each Friday at 8:45 am, the students come together as a school to pray together at Mass.

• Zooland is a fun, simulated project in which the students help keep a zoo (imaginary) from being shut down. The students work cooperatively, raise money and learn how to become good zookeepers.

• Space Race is a fun race through the solar system which involves cooperative learning, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

Service Activities

Service to others is an important part of our faith life at St. Frances Cabrini School. In the third grade, we support the veterans at the VA Hospital on American Lake. We pray for them, write cards, and make gift bags and boxes for them. The students learn patriotism, citizenship, and care for others through their efforts to build up the kingdom of God.

Curriculum

Religion: The focus of the third-grade religion curriculum is the church and the Sacraments. The student learns The Four Marks of the Church. The student explores the early Church through scripture. The student learns the Apostles’ Creed and Come Holy Spirit.

Reading: Third graders are becoming more independent readers.
• The student understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.
• The student develops skills to understand the meaning of what is read.
• The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes.

Language Arts: Third-grade students are continuing to develop their writing skills.
• They understand and use writing processes to create more developed pieces.
• The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.
• The student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work. Third graders learn cursive writing

Mathematics: Third-grade students are expanding their basic skills.
• They expand on concepts and skills related to addition and subtraction.
• They learn the meaning of multiplication and division and how these operations relate to each other.
• The students explore fractions and how they are used.
• The students learn measurement, time, and graphs.
• The students learn about polygraphs, perimeter and area.
• Our curriculum is aligned with the Common Core.

Social Studies: Third graders learn about communities and citizenship.
• They identify the different types of communities and learn that different communities have different landforms and bodies of water and a unique history.
• Learn communities depend on citizens to participate in their government.

Science: Third graders continue to use the scientific process as they explore life, earth, and physical science.

• They explore how plants and animals live and grow.
• They learn how earthquakes, volcanoes, water, and living things change the earth’s landforms.
• They explore and learn about matter and the physical and chemical changes matter undergo.

Technology: Third-grade students will …
• Use technology within all curriculum areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, and investigate and solve problems.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations.

Enrichment: Students attend weekly enrichment classes for library, music, PE, and Art.