School Learning 3rd Grade Skills and Curriculum By Amanda Morin Amanda Morin Amanda Morin is a freelance writer specializing in child development, parenting, and education. She has 10+ years of experience working with children. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 14, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Shereen Lehman, MS Fact checked by Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Print Tetra Images/Jamie Grill Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Math Reading Writing Science Social Studies Third grade is a year of great academic growth. Children who were previously very concrete thinkers are steadily becoming more open to the abstract. Though curriculum may vary from state to state there are some commonly taught skills and topics to give you an idea of what your child will learn in third grade. Math In second grade, the focus was on learning to subtract two-and three-digit numbers, regrouping, and measurement. In third grade, it shifts to more complicated topics: advanced multiplication and division, patterns and number sense, geometry and probability. By the end of third grade, your child will have gained the skills to complete mental math, work with fractions, estimate, interpret graphs and predict probability and outcomes. Reading Your child now reads with fluency, correcting himself when he makes a mistake and figuring out words from context clues. In third grade, he will build on those skills to begin delving into the world of chapter books and non-fiction. It's time to move on from learning to read to reading to learn. New skills he will tackle this year include using graphic organizers; using grammar, text and genre clues to glean information; and summarization. Writing In third grade, your child will begin writing more in all of his subjects to convey and summarize information. He will also typically learn how to write in cursive and be expected to do so regularly. Using that new longhand, he will work on using a sophisticated vocabulary to convey information, participate in a Writers' Workshop and use the writing process to write in a number of different genres. Science In third grade, science is not only conceptual but hands-on as well. Typically this is the year that students begin investigating systems, sound, habitats and natural science, all topics that require a lot of observation, measurement, and experimentation. Your third-grader will eagerly learn more about forces of nature, classification, setting up experiments and organisms and their habitats. Social Studies Third grade is the year your child starts to learn more about his country and the world around him, gaining a basic understanding of economics and money by learning all about supply and demand. Typically, third-graders spend a lot of time focusing on their own state, its trade, and unique qualities, but other geography skills are also key. Your child will focus a great deal on map skills. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit