Third grade is a transition year at Carlthorp School. Third graders are proud to join Carlthorp School's "Upper School," where they join the “the big kids” for recess and lunch. hird graders focus on developing personal responsibility, independence, and learning basic study habits.

The third grade American Indian social studies curriculum frames the year. With trips to the Southwest Museum and the Festival of Cultures, third graders begin to broaden their understanding of the world. The Tribe Report is the proudest moment of the grade, where the children really master the writing process. This project teaches them everything from outlining and making note cards to forming paragraphs, chapters, illustrations, and bibliography! Small group study in English, math and reading helps to prepare the children for the upper grades. Trips to the Art Room, Science Lab, and Spanish class help round out the day.

After beginning with "News," "Sharing," and "Poetry," the third graders are now ready for "Current Events!" Finding topical articles in the newspaper or children's news magazines, the children learn to digest information and present it in their own words, in front of the class. By the end of the year, the children are confident and composed, even in front of an audience.