In this lesson, students expand their understanding of solid waste management to include the idea of 3RC (reduce, reuse, recycle and compost). They will look at the effects of packaging decisions (reducing) and learn about engineering advancements in packaging materials and solid waste management. Also, they will observe biodegradation in a model landfill (composting).

In this unit, students will be introduced to poetry.  Students will learn about the different types of poetry characteristics through the use of poetry books, prezi presentations, music, and spoken word.

In this unplugged lesson, students will learn how to develop algorithms and the importance of providing specific instructions while making a simple deli sandwich.

The Big Idea: Why are detailed instructions important when communicating ideas with others?

Students will work with a partner to write, solve, check, and animate a division story problem based on a division expression using a sharing model.

Students use code to tell fun and interactive stories. Storytelling emphasizes creativity by encouraging students to tell a unique story each day.

Storytelling is a complete theme designed to be completed over eight, 45-75 minute sessions. For each Activity, students will watch a series of videos and create one coding project with opportunities to personalize their work using “Add-Ons,” which are mini-coding challenges that build on top of the core project.

In Unit 3, students use the research they have gathered throughout Units 1-2 about three water issues--access to water, demands on water, and water pollution--to create a video public service announcement (PSA). In the first half of the unit, they analyze an authentic model PSA to generate criteria for an effective PSA before choosing one of the water issues as their PSA topic. In pairs, they then write a script and create a storyboard outlining their PSA.
Students launch their PSAs for a live audience for the performance task in Lesson 13, so they write an invitational letter to a potential guest for the mid-unit assessment. Students pay particular attention to using capital letters and commas appropriately in the letter's mailing address. In the second half of the unit, students plan and create their video PSAs using technology tools for the end of unit assessment. They then prepare presentations to precede their PSAs for the PSA live launch during Lesson 13.
RI.3.1, W.3.2, W.3.4, SL.3.4, SL.3.6, L.3.1c, and L.3.2b.

The curriculum map is the single-best source to understand the year’s work in the module lessons for each grade level: a detailed view of the scope and sequence of the modules showing module titles, topics, targets, and standards explicitly taught and formally assessed in each module.

This unit connects with the third grade Social Studies Unit 1, Ancient Rome. In the Social Studies unit, students study and learn about the values and beliefs of the ancient Roman Empire. In this literature unit, students begin to see the role that myths, gods, and storytelling had in ancient Rome by reading a collection on Roman myths. While reading the myths, students will be challenged to think about how the myths illustrate and show the beliefs and customs of the Roman Empire. Students will also be challenged to think what the myths teach about retaliation and generosity.

In reading and writing, this unit focuses on helping readers solidify their understanding of the connection between recounting stories, determining a central message, and using details to explain how the central message is conveyed. Through multiple readings of the same myths, students will be able to analyze and discover the way in which messages are developed. Students will then be pushed to articulate this understanding both orally and in writing. Rereading the same myth multiple times also supports students fluency and vocabulary development.

Students brainstorm a list of bucket fillers together to inspire acts of kindness locally and globally

Learning to Write an Opinion (5 days)
Day 1. For this end of year project, you are going to do one last book review, but this time it is going to be in the form of an advertisement. You will share your ads with the 2nd graders as a preview for what they will be reading next year and your goal is to get them excited about 3rd grade reading.
Students will choose their favorite book from the year and begin planning the draft of their advertisement with the checklist as their guide. Offer support to students and coach them about the features of an advertisement.
Book Review Opinion Checklist Sample
Day 2. Yesterday you started the draft of your advertisement and planned out the elements from the beginning of the checklist. Today you will finish your draft using the elements of the checklist as a guide. We will look back at the book review checklist.
Day 3. Today you will need to revise and edit your advertisement and then have a partner revise and edit. Then you will create your final ad with any artwork you want to include. Be sure to think about making a lasting memory for your reader:
-Revise and edit advertisement
-Peer revise and edit
-Create final draft with added artwork
Day 4. Today you will practice presenting your advertisements to a partner.
Review the presentation skills for the presenter and the listener.
Day 5. You will share your advertisements with a lot of 2nd graders today.
Students will present advertisements (and listen and offer feedback or ask questions if their partner is also sharing a review or ad).

ELA G3:M1:U1
READING LITERARY TEXTS: OVERCOMING LEARNING CHALLENGES—SCHOOL AND EDUCATION
ELA G3:M1
ELA G3:M1:U1:L1
In this Unit
Guiding Questions and Big Ideas
The Four Ts
Assessment
Content Connections
Habits of Character
Unit-at-a-Glance
Accountable Independent Reading
Supporting English Language Learners
Texts and Resources to Buy
Preparation and Materials
Technology and Media
Additional Language and Literacy Block
Lessons
Optional Activities
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ELA Grade 3
ELA G3:M1
ELA G3:M1:U1
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In Unit 1, students read literary texts about children who face challenges with access to education. Throughout the course of the unit, students read three literary texts: Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown, Rain School by James Rumford, and Nasreen's Secret School by Jeanette Winter. They read each text for gist, recount the text, determine its central message or lesson, and then closely read and answer text-dependent questions designed to help them explain how that central message or lesson is conveyed through details in the text. Students also identify the challenges faced by the characters and how they are able to overcome them.

Throughout the unit, students are introduced to routines and anchor charts that will be used throughout the rest of the module, as well as the rest of the year. In the first half of the unit, students learn about independent reading and discussion norms and receive their independent reading journals and vocabulary logs. For the mid-unit assessment, students discuss what they like about their independent reading books and the things that they have found challenging. In the second half of the unit, after learning how to write short constructed responses, students read a new literary text, answer selected response questions, and write short constructed responses about questions having to do with the text.

This unit challenges students to view history with a critical lens, and to notice how there is always more than one side to a story. The unit begins with the Mayflower and helps students develop an understanding of why so many colonists decided to leave England and travel to the New World. Students will explore the hardships faced by the colonists, both on the ship and once they arrive in the New World, and how the colonists persevered and relied on the geography and environment to meet their needs. Students will then learn about the Wampanoag, the people who were on the land before the Pilgrims arrived. They will learn about what the Wampanoag valued, how they viewed the Pilgrims, and how the arrival of explorers and settlers negatively influenced their tribe. Then students will be pushed to analyze what really happened at the first Thanksgiving, and whose story is being told. Students will realize that the traditional story of the first Thanksgiving contains many myths that don't accurately reflect the Wampanoag and what really happened in 1621.

In this third-grade literature course, students explore the concepts of courage and friendship, beginning in Unit 1 with an author study of Roald Dahl. Even though Roald Dahl is known for writing silly, exaggerated stories with highly engaging characters, his stories have important themes and messages embedded in them.

In addition to launching a year-long exploration of the themes of friendship and courage, these texts will also help establish a positive classroom culture as students analyze what it means to help others, be a good person, and show courage. We hope this unit, in connection with all of the units in our third-grade literature course, will help students develop a deep and nuanced understanding of both friendship and courage.

In reading and writing, this unit focuses on setting a strong foundation for text analysis. Students will dive deep into characters and study the ways in which authors develop characters. They will analyze author’s word choice, both as a strategy for figuring out unknown words and as a way to improve their own narrative writing. Roald Dahl’s fun and playful writing style also allows for an exploration of how reading with expression and fluency helps develop comprehension.