Gregg International School G3 Class
Course Descriptions
Mathematics - As students' knowledge and skills in arithmetic continue to progress, we introduce more advanced mathematical concepts to them. Numbers between 1 and 10,000 are studied while students learn to recognize and understand the values, quantities, and relationships among the digits within a base system. Four-digit addition and subtraction are practiced, and multiplication facts for numbers 1 through 10 are committed to memory by applying them to common daily activities and problems requiring quantitative solutions. Other mathematical concepts that are elaborated on include fractions, time, graphs, money, measurement and geometry. For example, students do exercises in which parts of a whole are expressed as fractions; they gain understanding of the patterns of relationships between units of time; they work on projects involving the creation of various kinds of simple graphs to communicate quantitative information; and they engage in practical activities using customary units of measures (metric and U.S. standard) of distance and weight. Likewise, these practical mathematical activities and exercises will help the children to assimilate critical skills that are so important for correctly organizing and interpreting numerical data, the voluminous output of which seems to be increasing all the time.
Language Arts - READING - Students in 3G reading class embark on a mission to put into practice the knowledge and techniques learned in earlier reading classes for comprehending written information. They will also learn to vary the way they read different stories and articles, depending on the type of content and their purpose in reading them. We encourage students to use independently the various resources at their command for understanding the meaning of written language. As students begin to apply the techniques for reading comprehension derived from phonics, context clues, and structural analysis, they will find the utility and satisfaction of having a higher level of literacy to be very rewarding. A higher level of literacy allows the students to discuss significant aspects of the literature they have been reading. Our discussions are structured not only to ensure that students have comprehended main ideas, details, themes, plots, settings, and characters of stories, but also to give students a chance to critically appraise the inherent meanings and implications in the content of those stories. WRITING - Writing class in G3 begins to establish a synthesis of rhetoric and syntax in students' compositions. Students' awareness of the different kinds and purposes of writing has evolved to the point where they are sensitive to the need to alter the style of their writing to suit different audiences in different situations. The advancement of students' writing proficiency is supplemented by “writing conferences” in which revision techniques are expanded to include clarification, nuance, and organization of main ideas and details. With students delving more deeply into the world of writing, they will encounter the medium as a means of personal reflection, while also witnessing firsthand the power of their written work to affect readers. By maintaining portfolios of 3G students' writings, we are able to document the improvement in the grammatical and rhetorical aspects of students' written work, while also capturing the trends of their thinking in regard to the topics they choose to write about as well as their thoughts on those topics.
Science - By the time that students reach the G3 class, their abilities to inquire intelligently about the natural world around them have progressed to a degree where they are able to perform experiments that adhere to the general requirements of scientific investigation. Close observation of phenomena by students and their corresponding written records will immerse them in the scientific process, thereby providing them with first-hand experience in the production of scientific knowledge. Possible subjects for investigation could be the living things that occupy a particular habitat. A careful study of such a subject would include observing the differences and similarities in behavior among the species in a habitat, relative locations of the species there, and the various rates of growth of those species. Students will find the active involvement in scientific endeavors to be intellectually challenging and physically invigorating.
Social Studies - Our G3 social studies class embarks on a mission to understand the temporal, spatial, and social forces that produce communities. Studying the history and geography of selected communities and their inhabitants provides students with a foundation for understanding how events over time in a particular place affect the current condition of a community. In addition, attention will be paid to institutions that emerge in various communities, as well as recognizing differences and similarities among the communities that have been studied. An intensive focus on communities will impart in our students the knowledge that an important requirement for a successful community comes from concerted, responsible actions by its members.
Art/Drama/Music - As the artistic skills of students improve, they can refine the means and expand the range of their aesthetic expression. Fine arts activities provide students with the challenge of producing creative works that require them to express their ideas and emotions in unique and novel ways. Projects involving visual art, dramatic presentations, and musical recitals engage our students in worthwhile exercises that will stimulate their creativity and also help them learn to use critical thinking skills in contexts other than those of a verbal or numerical nature. Learning new ways of interpreting and expressing their ideas and emotions can provide students with the inspiration to try innovative and inventive methods for dealing with problems that don't respond to conventional solutions.
Physical Education - Our G3 students have plenty of opportunities to develop and maintain their physical fitness through a variety of activities involving individual and team sports, while also having time for free play in which they can create their own games. The time spent outdoors provides a wonderful setting for children to be themselves, an important, but often neglected, part of a truly comprehensive education that aspires to meet all of the needs of a developing child.
Computer Lab - Students have ample computer time each week. In addition to keyboard practice and Internet searches, they use the latest software that complements and enhances other curricular areas such as language arts and science. Computer lab gives students valuable experience in developing technical expertise as well as broadening their knowledge base through a trans-disciplinary approach to learning.
