The Waldorf School of St. Louis
Third Grade

In third grade, literacy and math skills flourish and children gain strength. Third graders experience a profound internal change as their sense of individuality emerges. With this emergence of self, children may feel more separate and distinct from caregivers and others. Consequently, your child may experience feelings of separation or loneliness. The third grade curriculum is designed to help children stand as individuals and be confident in their ability to become valued members of the community.

In history, students hear stories from the Old Testament. The stories are intended to mirror the conflicts that students themselves face: The story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is told to illustrate separation from the parental home, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil illuminates the import of individual good deeds and how the laws of community unfold. In social and natural sciences, students learn about home building and farming; these lessons demonstrate how basic human needs are met. In math, the topics of long division, multiplication, and measurement are studied. The topic of measurement includes the study of time, which encompasses how people orient themselves on Earth and mark the passage of time. In language arts, students are introduced to spelling and the parts of speech, both of which facilitate independent writing skills.  Third grade students continue to study world languages, learn to play the violin and soprano recorder, learn crocheting, and continue to work on all forms of fine art. In physical education, which includes circus arts from grades 3 - 8, students are introduced to collaborative games. Students also participate in a class play, which is related to their studies, and brings forth each student’s innate gifts.        

Main Lesson Topics: spelling, cursive, parts of speech, sentence structure, measurement, long division and multiplication, Old Testament stories, folk and Native American tales, drama, farming, shelter building, garden plants

Special Subject Lessons: French, German, singing, violin, recorder, watercolor painting, beeswax and clay modeling, crayon drawing, form drawing, crocheting, physical education, nature exploration