Cycle 3 (Grades 3-5)

CYCLE 3: 3rd-5th GRADES

In cycle three, students reinforce, consolidate, and expand their knowledge across the curriculum. They apply a new rigor and exactitude to their studies. This enhanced focus facilitates communication, lends depth to reasoning and permits increasingly complex oral and written expression. In cycle three, students further establish the structural and organizational foundation that culminates in the autonomy required for future success.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Through reading and interacting with well-known children’s literature, students will strengthen their basic skills of language arts.

READING AND VOCABULARY

Reading continues as a priority, both as a tool for learning and as a source of personal pleasure. Students read an expanding range of texts with increasing depth and complexity. Students read a variety of literature (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), and use a variety of strategies to increase their literal and inferential comprehension.

CYCLE 3: 3rd-5th GRADES

WRITING

Fundamental connections between reading and writing continue to be developed.

Productions increase in number and difficulty throughout the cycle. Students use writing as a tool to learn, reflect, and communicate.

GRAMMAR AND SPELLING

In cycle three, students acquire the basic language, grammar, and spelling skills that lead to a gradual understanding of how language works. Skills previously introduced are continually reinforced in subsequent grades.

SPEAKING/LISTENING

Speaking and listening skills are introduced and reinforced throughout daily activities. These improve the precision and coherence of student oral communication.

CYCLE 3: 3rd-5th GRADES

SOCIAL STUDIES

History and geography studies provide students with a thorough knowledge of our world. Students are encouraged to go beyond simplistic cause-and-effect relationships to build a deeper understanding of the world. Reflecting on current events around the world, students are asked to become more aware of fundamental human rights. This will lead to a better understanding of the rules of their social environment (nation, community, family, school and class).

MATHEMATICS

Problem-solving is essential to the mastery of mathematics. The ability to search, abstract and prove allows students to establish connections among previously acquired and new concepts.

PROBLEM-SOLVING

  • Adopt an appropriate strategy to solve a problem
  • Implement the strategy logically
  • Communicate the strategy
  • Discuss the validity of the solution

NUMBERS AND ARITHMETIC

  • Order whole numbers
  • Establish arithmetical relationships between numbers
  • Operate techniques for subtraction, multiplication, and Euclidian division
  • Write a decimal number and its fractional equivalent and vise versa
  • Solve problems involving addition and subtraction, multiplication and division of a decimal by an integer, and a decimal division of two integers

GEOMETRY AND MEASURMENT

  • Reproduce, describe (using the appropriate vocabulary), represent and construct common geometrical objects
  • Perform actions on plane figures: perfecting reproduction, construction and transformation techniques (axial symmetry, enlargement, reduction)
  • Measure different quantities: length, mass, duration, area, volume (using the metric and the U.S. customary system)

PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

  • Make predictions using experimental probability
  • Collect and analyze data

CYCLE 3: 3rd-5th GRADES

SCIENCE

Students use their base of experience and a hands-on approach to rationally investigate objects and events beyond their personal environment. They learn to formulate questions, as well as propose rational solutions derived from observations, measurements, data comparisons, and documentation.

ARTS

Through alternating between receptive and productive activities, students enhance their artistic curiosity, develop their skills, and learn to express themselves.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical education develops the student physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally. Students engage in a wide variety of activities including collective, individual, and expressive games.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Through library and information technology each student is encouraged to become a lifelong reader/learner. In cycle three, students acquire more advanced research skills that support and enhance learning across the curriculum.