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Children in 3rd grade are ready to accept more responsibility. They are much more independent and can function well in a more structured classroom. Many new ideas are introduced into content areas this year. Homework in 3rd grade might include weekly spelling words, Bible memory, math homelinks, and reviewing for tests. Bible, Reading, Spelling, Language, Science, and Math are graded for report cards. Previously children were learning to read, but now the emphasis is changing to reading to learn.

The third grade Bible curriculum focuses on the study of God and His people, describing the way God acts and talks with His people. The stories, covering Genesis-Judges, are presented to make each student feel a part of God's people, experiencing the love and concern of God and other people. The students also will recite Bible passages from memory throughout the year.

Because Christians have a special message to take into the world, we have a responsibility to develop God's gifts in the language arts. We use the Open Court curriculum in which reading, speaking, phonics, spelling, listening, writing, all integrated. Open Court uses the themes of Friendship, CityCritters, Imagination, Money, Storytelling, and Country Life.

Third graders will be learning about writing traits using 6 + 1 writing activities. Students gain a love of reading through a variety of Read-Aloud books.

Students at Hudsonville Christian use the Zaner Bloser method of handwriting. Manuscript is reviewed and used for appropriate tasks, but the students are expected to do most written work in cursive.

Our math curriculum teaches the students concepts necessary to function in today's world as God's servants. The mathematics program is THIRD GRADE EVERYDAY MATHEMATICS from the University of Chicago Mathematics Project. In this program children "do mathematics." Some of the major concepts we will cover include problem solving, multiplication, and division, all of which will be taught in a real world context.

The 3rd grade science curriculum is a hands-on program that encourages students to become actively involved in scientific discovery. Children are naturally curious, and this curriculum capitalizes on their innate inquisitiveness and creativity, helping students to become excited about science at an early age.

This program centers on the fact that the world in which we live belongs to God, who created and upholds it. Through scientific study we can get a feel of the amazing complexity and orderliness of God's world.

Students learn about the basic simple machines and how they affect our everyday lives. 3rd graders will see evidences of God's creative genius in massive geological formations, in the relationships of parts within an atom, in the orderliness of God's creation in the changing of matter, in God's power in creating planets, and in the work God has given us to do.

Students will be using the 'Meet Michigan' by Hillsdale textbooks to learn more about Michigan's history, people past and present, and the government of Michigan. We will be talking about core democratic values and economic issues relating to Michigan.

Third graders are interested not only in the creative and expressive aspects of Art, but also are interested in the mechanics and disciplines of art. During this time, more direction can be given and followed, along with working in various media (including some 3-dimensional work). Third graders memorize Psalm 100 in their classrooms; their visual expressions of this Psalm are a wonderful way of response to God's promises and His world.

In 3rd grade physical education we review throwing, catching, kicking and hitting skills, and begin incorporating them into soccer, basketball, and softball games. We also begin formal fitness testing. Overall, we are learning to become responsible young Christians in the way we participate in physical activity.

Our goal through music education is to bring your child to understand and experience music as a gift of God which was given to us to develop and use for God's glory and our own enrichment. By means of listening, singing, creating, movement and manipulation of melodic and rhythmic instruments your child will be led to perceive music as an artistic organization of sounds and silences through an enjoyable exploration of

1. rhythm (beat, meter and its patterns);
2. melody (pitch, melodic direction and shape, intervals, scales);
3. harmony (chords, rounds, descants, partner songs);
4. tone color (vocal, timbre, string, brass, woodwind, percussion, and orchestral sounds);
5. expressive qualities (dynamics, tempo and style); and
6. form (strophic, AB, ABA, theme and variations, rondo, sonata). In this way your child will experience music on his/her developmental level, and in a way which is delightful to the ear and challenging to the mind.

Appreciation of literature is taught as the children listen to books read aloud by the librarian and as they are aided in selecting books to read for enjoyment. Children hear stories from the various genres: realistic fiction, historical fiction, traditional literature, fantasy, poetry, non-fiction and biographies. They become adept at locating materials in the library through the use of the Dewey Decimal system and the computer. Students learn to search by title, author, subject, and keyword. They become familiar with reference materials.

1. Start each day with a good breakfast.
2. Get to bed on time.
3. Read every day at home.
4. Establish a daily routine for organizing school needs (having the bag with school supplies packed the night before).
5. Review any papers that come home as soon as possible with your child.
6. Help your child find a quiet study corner? in your home.
7. Monitor T.V. viewing and limit it if necessary.
8. Pray with your child about school and learning to find our place in God's Kingdom.