What your child learns in 3rd grade in Washington
3rd grade is a big year. Students read to learn as well as learning to read, start multiplication, division and fractions, and work with area. It is also the first year of the Smarter Balanced state tests.
3rd grade subjects in the Washington State Learning Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Quantity and Relationships: multiplying and dividing within 100, and fractions as numbers
- Spatial Reasoning: shapes, measurement and the space around us
- Data Analysis: asking questions, collecting data and reading what it shows
14 units, including Round & Count, Add & Subtract, Multiplication, Division.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: understanding chapter books and information texts
- Writing: organized paragraphs
- Speaking, Listening and Digital Forums: sharing ideas and building on what others say
13 units, including Read and Think, Story Elements, Reading Patterns, Prefixes & Suffixes.
Science
Focus areas
- Forces and magnets
- Life cycles, traits and survival
- Weather and climate
9 units, including Pushes, Pulls & Forces, Speed & Motion, How Plants Grow & Change, Basic Needs & Life Cycles.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Culture: people, places and environment
- Tribes of Washington and their governments
- Geography of North America
7 units, including Needs Around the World, Communities Around the World, Working Together Fairly, North America.
Printable 3rd grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on reading comprehension, paragraph writing, multiplication and division facts within 100, and fractions. State test scores are separate from the report card.
Washington report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
3rd grade students also take the Washington state tests (Smarter Balanced and WCAS). Read the state tests guide.
Washington's Social Emotional Learning standards apply in every grade. Read about Social Emotional Learning.
Ready for 3rd grade?
3rd grade builds on what your child practiced in 2nd grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Numbers to 1000, Bigger or Smaller, Skip Counting, Even, Odd and Ordinals, Facts to 20
- English Language Arts: Sound Detectives, Rhyme Time, Book Explorers, Text Features, Story Builders
- Science: Solids & Liquids, Changing Materials, Water World, Mixtures & Materials, Plants, Seeds & Pollinators
- Social Studies: Needs & Wants, Caring Citizens, Then & Now, Communities Compared, Our Community Changes
Common questions
3rd grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Washington State Learning Standards. 3rd grade is a big year. Students read to learn as well as learning to read, start multiplication, division and fractions, and work with area. It is also the first year of the Smarter Balanced state tests.
Washington report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 3rd grade also write the Washington state tests (Smarter Balanced and WCAS), which is separate from the report card.
Short, regular practice works better than long sessions: 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Read together, use math in real life, and praise effort.
Practice 3rd grade skills with Gradelings
Kind hints, no ads, and reports in the language of the Washington report card. Subscribe now, or try it free for 30 days with no card.