Quarter 3 · Weeks 19–27

Reasoning: Fractions, Opinion Essays, Weather & Government

Children learn fractions as numbers: unit fractions, the number line, equivalent fractions and comparing, then measure to the half and quarter inch and tell time to the minute. In writing they plan, draft and revise a full opinion essay and practise inference and point of view. Science studies weather, climate, severe weather safety and a weather instrument build. Social studies covers local government, the three branches, citizenship, voting and economic choices.

Units in this quarter

Quarter plan

By the end of this quarter

Mathematics

Your child can name a fraction as equal parts of one whole and count how many pieces of the same size make it.
Your child can place fractions, including fractions greater than 1, on a number line.
Your child can find equal fractions with strips, drawings and number lines, and write whole numbers as fractions.
Your child can compare two fractions that have the same top number or the same bottom number and explain why.
Your child can measure to the nearest quarter inch and show the measurements on a line plot.
Your child can tell time to the minute, find elapsed time, and measure mass in grams or kilograms and liquid volume in liters.

Matters most for what comes next: Seeing a fraction as a number on the number line, finding equal fractions, and comparing fractions with reasoning matter most; they return in Quarter 4 and are the base for fourth-grade fractions.

Reading & Writing

Your child can write an opinion essay with an introduction, body paragraphs that each give a reason with evidence, and a conclusion.
Your child can tell a reason from evidence and choose facts and examples that support an opinion.
Your child can make an inference from a text clue plus what they already know, and work out new words from context.
Your child can name an author's purpose and tell how their own point of view differs from the author's or a character's.
Your child can compare two texts on one topic and combine information from both in a summary.
Your child can tell when words mean exactly what they say and when they do not, and explain common sayings.

Matters most for what comes next: Supporting an opinion with reasons and evidence in organized paragraphs, and making inferences from clues in a text, matter most for the Quarter 4 research report.

Science

Your child can measure and record weather with a thermometer, a rain gauge and a wind streamer, and describe patterns in the data.
Your child can tell weather from climate and describe the climates of different parts of the world.
Your child can name the severe weather most likely where you live and explain a safety plan for it.
Your child can design, build, test and improve a simple weather instrument.
Your child can use clouds, air pressure, wind and temperature to make a forecast and then check it.
Your child can explain how plants, animals and people are suited to the climates where they live.

Matters most for what comes next: Reading data tables and graphs to describe weather and climate patterns, and testing and improving a design, matter most for the investigations in Quarter 4.

Social Studies

Your child can explain what local government does, who leads it and how those leaders are chosen.
Your child can name the three branches of the United States government and the job of each.
Your child can give examples of citizens' rights and responsibilities and explain why each matters.
Your child can explain how voting works and why every vote counts.
Your child can tell needs from wants, make a simple spending plan and name the opportunity cost of a choice.
Your child can explain producers, consumers, goods, services, scarcity, and why prices rise and fall.

Matters most for what comes next: Knowing how local government makes decisions, and weighing choices with needs, wants and opportunity cost, matter most for the budgeting and civic action work in Quarter 4.

Assessment calendar

Week	Day	Subject	What
19	5	All subjects	Weekly checkWeekly checks in all four subjects, every Day 5
21	4	Reading & Writing	ProjectOpinion essay: revise and edit the whole essay (written in Weeks 19–21)
22	5	Social Studies	ProjectFamily mock election
23	4	Reading & Writing	ProjectOpinion Fair speech (Days 3–4)
23	4	Social Studies	ProjectTown Council Challenge: proposal and letter (Days 3–4)
24	5	Mathematics	Unit testUnit 4 Test: Fractions
24	5	Reading & Writing	Unit testUnit 4 Test: Opinion Essays, Inference & Point of View
24	5	Science	Unit testUnit 4 Test: Weather & Climate
24	5	Science	ProjectWeather instrument design challenge: presentation (work begins Day 1)
24	5	Social Studies	Unit testUnit 4 Test: Government & Citizenship
26	5	Social Studies	ProjectMarket simulation
27	1	Mathematics	Quarter reviewQuarter 3 Review: Mathematics
27	2	Reading & Writing	Quarter reviewQuarter 3 Review: Reading & Writing
27	3	Science	Quarter reviewQuarter 3 Review: Science
27	4	Social Studies	Quarter reviewQuarter 3 Review: Social Studies
27	5	Science	ProjectPerformance task: forecast and safety plan

Pacing and planning

Week 23 is the flex week and Week 27 is the review week. All of math Week 23 is review and enrichment.
A week behind? Keep math Weeks 19–22 (fractions) and the ELA essay in Weeks 19–21 whole. Use Week 23 Days 3–4 for missed lessons.
Week 24 Day 5 holds four unit tests and the science presentation. Move two tests to the next day; split the reading test into two sittings.
Gather ahead for Week 19: an outdoor thermometer, a clear straight-sided jar and a compass. Look up your town's monthly temperature and rain averages for Week 20.
Cut the math fraction strips in Week 19 Day 2 and keep them in an envelope; lessons use them through Week 27 and again at the end of the year.
For Week 26 math, borrow a kitchen scale that shows grams and save two 1-liter bottles. Collect play money and store flyers for Weeks 24–26.

Week 19: Science builds weather tools this week, and ELA begins a three-week opinion essay.
Week 21: The opinion essay is revised and edited on Day 4.
Week 22: Social studies ends the week with a family mock election on Day 5.
Week 23: Flex week: Days 1–2 catch up; Days 3–4 hold the fraction quilt, the Opinion Fair and the Town Council Challenge.
Week 24: Science is a five-day weather instrument design challenge; all four Unit 4 tests fall on Day 5.
Week 25: Math needs an analog clock with hands your child can move.
Week 26: Math needs a kitchen scale and 1-liter bottles; social studies ends with a market simulation on Day 5.
Week 27: Review week: Quarter 3 Reviews on Days 1–4 and a science forecast performance task on Day 5.

Quarter 3 Reviews Quarter 3 report form

See what your state adds or places differently

Weeks in this quarter

Open a week for the full plan, jump straight to a day, or print the whole week.

Week 19

Videos Print

English Language Arts: I can tell how an opinion essay is different from an opinion paragraph and name its parts(W.3.1, W.3.1.A, SL.3.1, L.3.6)
Mathematics: I can explain that a fraction names equal parts of one whole(3.NF.A.1, 3.G.A.2, 3.NF.A.3.C)
Science: I can explain what weather is and describe today's weather using its five parts(3-ESS2-1)
Social Studies: I can explain what a government is and name things my local government does(D2.Civ.1.3-5, D2.Civ.6.3-5, D2.Civ.5.3-5, D2.Eco.12.3-5)

Activities

English: Your child writes Intro, Body 1, Body 2, Body 3 and Conclusion on five sticky n…
Mathematics: Use grid paper
Science: What Is Weather?
Social: Neighborhood service hunt

Reading list

Snowflake Bentley — Jacqueline Briggs MartinRead-aloud
The Cloud Book — Tomie dePaola
House Mouse, Senate Mouse — Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes
Tornado — Betsy Byars

Week 20

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English Language Arts: I can tell the difference between a reason and evidence(W.3.1.B, L.3.6, RI.3.1, RI.3.3)
Mathematics: I can show halves, thirds and fourths on a number line from 0 to 1(3.NF.A.2, 3.NF.A.2.A, 3.NF.A.2.B, 3.NF.A.3.C)
Science: I can explain the difference between weather and climate and sort statements into each(3-ESS2-2, 3-ESS2-1)
Social Studies: I can explain why the U.S(D2.Civ.5.3-5, D2.Civ.3.3-5, D2.Civ.1.3-5)

Activities

English: Write these ten sentences on ten cards, before the lesson if you can, and shuff…
Mathematics: Use the three lines
Science: What Is Climate?
Social: Branch tree

Reading list

House Mouse, Senate Mouse — Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw BarnesRead-aloud
Tornado — Betsy Byars
The Hundred Dresses — Eleanor Estes
Twister on Tuesday (Magic Tree House #23) — Mary Pope Osborne

Week 21

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English Language Arts: I can use transitions to link my body paragraphs(W.3.1.C, L.3.6, L.3.1.H, L.3.1.I)
Mathematics: I can use fraction strips to find fractions that are equal(3.NF.A.3.A, 3.NF.A.3.B, 3.NF.A.3.C)
Science: I can explain what causes thunder and lightning and the safety steps to take in a thunderstorm(3-ESS3-1)
Social Studies: I can explain what a citizen is and how a person becomes a U.S(D2.Civ.2.3-5, D2.Civ.8.3-5, D2.Civ.3.3-5, D2.Civ.7.3-5)

Activities

English: 1) Write the topic sentence of each of your child's body paragraphs on a sticky…
Mathematics: Your child finds each match on the wall and checks it with the ruler
Science: Thunderstorms and Lightning Safety
Social: Sort and read

Reading list

Tornado — Betsy ByarsRead-aloud
The Hundred Dresses — Eleanor Estes
Twister on Tuesday (Magic Tree House #23) — Mary Pope Osborne
Hurricanes! — Gail Gibbons

Week 22

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English Language Arts: I can make an inference by using a text clue and what I already know(RL.3.1, SL.3.1, L.3.6, RI.3.1)
Mathematics: I can compare fractions that have the same denominator(3.NF.A.3.D, 3.NF.A.3.B, 3.NF.A.2.B)
Science: I can name five climate types and color them on a world map(3-ESS2-2, 3-LS4-3)
Social Studies: I can explain what voting is and hold a fair family vote with a secret ballot(D2.Civ.2.3-5, D2.Civ.11.3-5, D2.Civ.1.3-5, D2.Civ.10.3-5)

Activities

English: Reread "After the Game." Your child says all three parts of the formula each ti…
Mathematics: Your child shows each pair on the wall, places a sign card and reads the senten…
Science: The Five Major Climates
Social: Family vote

Reading list

Grace for President — Kelly DiPucchioRead-aloud
Hurricanes! — Gail Gibbons
House Mouse, Senate Mouse — Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes
Tornado — Betsy Byars

Week 23

Videos Print

English Language Arts: I can tell a reason from evidence and add strong evidence to my essay (catch-up day)(W.3.1.B, W.3.5, RI.3.1, RL.3.1)
Mathematics: I can place fractions, including fractions greater than 1, on a number line(3.NF.A.2.A, 3.NF.A.2.B, 3.NF.A.3.C, 3.NF.A.3.A)
Science: I can read weather tools correctly and record a full weather observation(3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2, 3-ESS3-1, 3-LS4-3)
Social Studies: I can fix the trickiest ideas about the levels and branches of government(D2.Civ.1.3-5, D2.Civ.5.3-5, D2.Civ.2.3-5, D2.Civ.3.3-5)

Activities

English: Write these on the six index cards
Mathematics: Move to grid paper
Science: Flex Catch-Up: Weather Tools and Data
Social: Government grid

Reading list

What Can a Citizen Do? — Dave EggersRead-aloud
Those Shoes — Maribeth Boelts
Grace for President — Kelly DiPucchio
Hurricanes! — Gail Gibbons

Week 24

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English Language Arts: I can name an author's purpose and tell how my own view is different from the author's(RI.3.6, L.3.6, RI.3.5, RI.3.4)
Mathematics: I can split shapes into equal parts and name each part as a unit fraction(3.G.A.2, 3.NF.A.1, 3.MD.B.4, 3.NF.A.2)
Science: I can define an engineering problem by naming what my weather instrument must do and the limits I have(3-5-ETS1-1, 3-ESS2-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3)
Social Studies: I can explain what economics is and give examples of choices people make with money and time(D2.Eco.1.3-5, D2.Eco.2.3-5, D2.Civ.1.3-5, D2.Civ.2.3-5)

Activities

English: Read texts 2 and 3 together
Mathematics: Say: "A 4 by 2 rectangle is 4 squares long and 2 squares tall." Your child uses…
Science: Define the Problem: Build a Weather Instrument
Social: Choice hunt

Reading list

Those Shoes — Maribeth BoeltsRead-aloud
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Picture Book Edition) — William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
Ox-Cart Man — Donald Hall
The Cloud Book — Tomie dePaola

Week 25

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English Language Arts: I can tell how two texts about the same topic focus on different parts of it, and I can use new science words(RI.3.9, RI.3.4, RI.3.2, RF.3.3.B)
Mathematics: I can tell time to the nearest minute(3.MD.A.1)
Science: I can identify cirrus, cumulus, stratus and cumulonimbus clouds and tell what weather each often brings(3-ESS2-1)
Social Studies: I can explain what producers are and name the resources they use(D2.Eco.3.3-5, D2.Eco.1.3-5, D2.Eco.2.3-5, D2.Eco.5.3-5)

Activities

English: 1) Ask: "What does Text 2 keep telling about?" (how bees carry pollen and help…
Mathematics: You set each time
Science: Cloud Types
Social: Source work: a morning at the bakery

Reading list

The Cloud Book — Tomie dePaolaRead-aloud
Ox-Cart Man — Donald Hall
Mr. Popper's Penguins — Richard and Florence Atwater
Those Shoes — Maribeth Boelts

Week 26

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English Language Arts: I can tell when words mean exactly what they say (literal) and when they mean something else (nonliteral), an…(L.3.5.A, RL.3.4, SL.3.1, L.3.6)
Mathematics: I can estimate and measure mass in grams(3.MD.A.2, 3.OA.A.3, 3.NBT.A.2)
Science: I can explain how an animal's body parts and behaviors help it survive in its climate(3-LS4-3, 3-ESS2-2, 3-ESS3-1)
Social Studies: I can explain scarcity and how it forces people and communities to choose(D2.Eco.1.3-5, D2.Eco.3.3-5, D2.Eco.2.3-5, D2.Eco.7.3-5)

Activities

English: Write these sentences on the cards
Mathematics: Your child estimates first, then measures, and writes both in the table
Science: How Animals Survive in Their Climate
Social: Part 1, a personal choice

Reading list

Mr. Popper's Penguins — Richard and Florence AtwaterRead-aloud
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors — Joyce Sidman
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? — Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Ox-Cart Man — Donald Hall

Week 27

Videos Print

English Language Arts: I can review opinion writing by planning and writing a short opinion piece with reasons, evidence and linking…(W.3.1, W.3.1.A, W.3.1.B, W.3.1.C)
Mathematics: I can review fractions as equal parts and place fractions on a number line(3.NF.A.1, 3.NF.A.2.A, 3.NF.A.2.B, 3.G.A.2)
Science: I can review weather tools, weather versus climate and climate regions(3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2, 3-ESS3-1, 3-5-ETS1-1)
Social Studies: I can review local government and the three branches at each level(D2.Civ.1.3-5, D2.Civ.5.3-5, D2.Civ.2.3-5, D2.Civ.3.3-5)

Activities

English: Plan a new piece together: "Should kids write thank-you notes by hand?" Draw fo…
Mathematics: Your child draws each one
Science: Q3 Review: Weather and Climate
Social: Job sort

Reading list

Twister on Tuesday (Magic Tree House #23) — Mary Pope OsborneRead-aloud
Mr. Popper's Penguins — Richard and Florence Atwater
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors — Joyce Sidman
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? — Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

Key milestones this quarter

Unit 4 tests (Week 24)
Fractions on a number line
A complete opinion essay
Weather instrument build
Class or family vote
Quarter 3 review (Week 27)