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Elementary
Elementary Social Studies Grade 3
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The third-grade Social Studies curriculum consists of the following content area strands: American History, Geography, Economics, and Civics. Third-grade students will learn about North America and the Caribbean. They will focus on the regions of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. Their study will include physical and cultural characteristics as they learn about our country and its neighbors.
Please view the Elementary Parents Guide for Grades 3-5 with guidance on helping your student transition to online learning and thrive at VLACS.
Major Topics and Concepts
Segment One:
Analyzing primary sources
Map skills: elements and purpose
Using maps to locate oceans, continents, countries, regions, and states
Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands: settlers
cultural characteristics
people groups
people’s perceptions based on literature, song, and legends
physical features
resources
natural and man-made landmarks
vegetation and landscapes
climate
cultural diffusion
United States Regions: label the states
various ethnic group contributions
cultural contributions
cultural characteristics
people’s perceptions based on literature, song, and legends
physical features
resources
natural and man-made landmarks
vegetation and landscapes
climate
Segment Two:
Analyzing primary sources
Goods and services
Scarcity and trade
Identifying and describing currencies from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean
Influential individuals
United States government
The levels of government and the responsibilities of each
Florida state government: seal, constitution, and notable people
Citizenship
Civic virtues
Voting
Patriotic holidays and observances
Course Materials
To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students and families are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers because, when teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.
Required Materials – Please view the list of materials before registering.
Competencies
Geography
I can explain map elements. I can identify the purpose of a map scale. I can compare different types of maps. I can identify features on a world map.
Countries in North America
I can compare primary and secondary sources. I can identify cultures that settled in North America. I can identify the countries in North America. I can describe the physical features of countries in North America. I can describe the natural resources of countries in North America. I can identify landmarks in North America. I can compare the cultural characteristics of countries in North America.
The United States
I can categorize the regions in the United States. I can describe physical features of the regions in the United States. I can identify the cultures that settled in the regions of the United States. I can identify landmarks in the regions of the United States.
Economics
I can identify the characteristics of currencies. I can compare currencies from different countries. I can explain scarcity. I can compare buyers and sellers.
Government
I can explain the purpose of the United States Constitution. I can describe the three levels of government in the United States. I can describe the three branches of government in the United States.
Civics
I can identify civic virtues. I can summarize civic responsibilities. I can describe United States holidays and symbols.
