Our Curriculum › History & Social Studies › 3rd Grade
History 3
A third-grade look at world history and early America: map skills, ancient Rome, the Vikings, Native American peoples, Spanish and other explorers, then each of the thirteen colonies in turn, with two research projects, games and a long year-end review.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
13 colonies, 2 projects
Each colony studied, two researched
Standards
Core Knowledge Grade 3 history & geography
What's taught, unit by unit
Maps, rivers, Canada and ancient RomeDays 1–10
What history is, maps and globes, the world's great river systems, Canada, then ancient Rome: the Republic, the Punic Wars with Carthage, Julius Caesar and Augustus, daily life, and the decline and fall of Rome.
- 1 · What Is History?
- 2 · Reading Maps and Globes
- 3 · River Systems of the World
- 4 · Canada: Our Northern Neighbor
- 5 · Ancient Rome: The Republic
- 6 · The Punic Wars
- 7 · Julius Caesar and Augustus
- 8 · Daily Life in Ancient Rome
- 9 · The Decline and Fall of Rome
Plus 1 review day, not listed.
The VikingsDays 11–20
Who the Vikings were, their longships, Erik the Red and Leif Erikson reaching North America, daily life, trade and exploration, Norse mythology, and why the Viking raids ended.
- 11 · Who Were the Vikings?
- 12 · Viking Longships
- 13 · Erik the Red
- 14 · Leif Erikson Reaches North America
- 16 · Viking Daily Life
- 17 · Viking Trade and Exploration
- 18 · Norse Mythology
- 19 · Why Vikings Stopped Raiding
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Native American peoplesDays 21–30
The first Americans and the Inuit of the Arctic, the Anasazi and Pueblo peoples of the Southwest, the Eastern Woodland peoples, the Iroquois Confederacy, Southeast peoples, and trade and travel between nations.
- 21 · The First Americans
- 22 · The Inuit of the Arctic
- 23 · The Anasazi of the Southwest
- 24 · The Pueblo Peoples
- 26 · Eastern Woodland Peoples
- 27 · The Iroquois Confederacy
- 28 · Southeast Peoples
- 29 · Native American Trade and Travel
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Explorers of North AmericaDays 31–40
Spanish explorers Ponce de León, de Soto and Coronado, the founding of St. Augustine, the Pueblo Revolt, and then John Cabot for England, Champlain for France and Henry Hudson's search for the Northwest Passage.
- 31 · Ponce de León Searches for a Legend
- 32 · Hernando de Soto's Long Journey
- 33 · St. Augustine: America's Oldest City
- 34 · Coronado's Search for Gold
- 36 · The Pueblo Revolt
- 37 · John Cabot Explores for England
- 38 · Samuel de Champlain and New France
- 39 · Henry Hudson's Voyages
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Jamestown and PlymouthDays 41–55
The thirteen colonies in brief, Jamestown, the Starving Time, John Smith and Pocahontas, tobacco, the first Africans in Virginia, the House of Burgesses, then the Pilgrims, the Mayflower Compact, Squanto and the first Thanksgiving.
- 41 · The Thirteen Colonies: An Overview
- 42 · Jamestown: The First Colony
- 43 · The Starving Time
- 44 · John Smith and Pocahontas
- 46 · Tobacco Saves the Colony
- 47 · The First Africans in Virginia
- 48 · The House of Burgesses
- 49 · Daily Life in Colonial Virginia
- 51 · The Pilgrims and the Mayflower
- 52 · The Mayflower Compact
- 53 · The First Winter and Squanto
- 54 · The First Thanksgiving
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
The other colonies, one by oneDays 56–90
Massachusetts Bay and the Puritans; Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson and Rhode Island; Maryland; the Carolinas; Georgia; New York; and William Penn's Pennsylvania, each with its founding, economy and daily life.
- 56 · The Puritans Arrive
- 57 · John Winthrop's Vision
- 58 · Puritan Daily Life
- 59 · Fishing and Shipbuilding in Massachusetts
- 61 · Roger Williams Seeks Freedom
- 62 · Founding Rhode Island
- 63 · Anne Hutchinson's Courage
- 65 · Founding Maryland
- 66 · Maryland's Tobacco Economy
- 67 · The Maryland Toleration Act
- 68 · Daily Life in Colonial Maryland
- 69 · Comparing Virginia and Maryland
- 71 · Founding the Carolinas
- 72 · Rice and Indigo in South Carolina
- 73 · Charleston: A Bustling Port City
- 74 · North Carolina's Different Path
- 76 · Founding Georgia
- 77 · Georgia as a Buffer Colony
- 78 · Georgia's Early Rules
- 79 · Life in Colonial Georgia
- 81 · New Netherland: A Dutch Colony
- 82 · England Takes Over: New York
- 83 · A Melting Pot of Cultures
- 84 · New York Harbor and Trade
- 86 · William Penn and Pennsylvania
- 87 · The Quakers' Beliefs
- 88 · Penn's Fair Treaty with Native Americans
- 89 · Philadelphia: A Planned City
Plus 7 review days, not listed.
Comparing the coloniesDays 91–100
New England, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies compared, why people came, enslaved Africans in the colonies, relations between Native Americans and colonists, and colonial town life.
- 91 · Three Regions of the Colonies
- 92 · New England: Climate and Jobs
- 93 · Middle Colonies: A Rich Mix
- 94 · Southern Colonies: Big Farms
- 96 · Why People Came to the Colonies
- 97 · Enslaved Africans in the Colonies
- 98 · Native Americans and the Colonists
- 99 · Colonial Town Life
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Colonial projects and daily lifeDays 101–135
Two research projects on a colony of the student's choice (founding, economy, map, a day in the life, a presentation), a timeline, quill pens, food, games, trades, schools, clothing, transportation, money, holidays and homes.
- 101 · Colonial Project: Choose a Colony
- 102 · Colonial Project: Research Founding and Location
- 103 · Colonial Project: Economy and Daily Life
- 104 · Colonial Project: Make a Map
- 106 · Colonial Project: A Day in the Life
- 107 · Colonial Project: Present Your Findings
- 108 · Comparing Colonial Life to Today
- 109 · Map Skills Review: The 13 Colonies
- 111 · History Trivia Challenge
- 112 · Colonial Crafts: Make a Quill Pen
- 113 · Colonial Food: What Did Colonists Eat?
- 114 · Famous Colonial Figures Review
- 116 · Building a Colonial Timeline
- 117 · History Game: Colony Match-Up
- 118 · Colonial Games and Fun
- 119 · What Would You Bring? A Colonist's Journey
- 121 · Colonial Jobs and Trades
- 122 · Colonial Schools
- 123 · Colonial Clothing
- 124 · Colonial Transportation
- 126 · Colonial Money and Trade
- 127 · Colonial Holidays and Celebrations
- 128 · Colonial Homes
- 129 · Second Colonial Project: A New Colony
- 131 · Second Colonial Project: Research Founding
- 132 · Second Colonial Project: Economy and Daily Life
- 133 · Second Colonial Project: Compare to Your First Colony
- 134 · Second Colonial Project: Present Your Findings
Plus 7 review days, not listed.
Games, projects and looking backDays 136–160
A few real lessons (long-distance communication, town meetings) mixed with Colonial Jeopardy, a history olympics, a diorama, a quiz show, a final colonial project, a fact book, self-assessment and goal setting.
- 136 · How Colonists Communicated Long Distances
- 137 · History Game: Colonial Jeopardy
- 138 · Colonial Government: Town Meetings
- 139 · What I Learned About the Colonies
- 141 · History Olympics: Round 1
- 142 · History Olympics: Round 2
- 143 · Explaining Colonial History to a Younger Kid
- 144 · Design a Colonial Diorama
- 146 · What Makes a Good Historical Question
- 147 · Colonial Facts Quiz Show
- 148 · Reflecting on a Year of History
- 149 · Final Colonial Project: Your Choice
- 151 · Continue Final Colonial Project
- 152 · Finish and Present Your Final Project
- 153 · Create a Colonial History Fact Book
- 154 · History Year Highlights
- 156 · History Skills Self-Assessment
- 157 · What I Want to Explore Next
- 158 · Teach Your Family Everything You Know
- 159 · History Goals for Next Year
Plus 5 review days, not listed.
Trivia finale, portfolio & celebrationDays 161–180
Trivia rounds, a map of the colonies, picking a favorite colony, a year-in-review portfolio, thank-you notes to historical figures, a family history story and a final celebration.
- 161 · Writing Advice for Next Year's Historians
- 162 · History 3 Trivia Finale: Round 1
- 163 · History 3 Trivia Finale: Round 2
- 164 · Design Your Own History Trivia
- 166 · Map of the 13 Colonies: Final Review
- 167 · History 3 Portfolio: Choose Your Best 5
- 168 · History 3 Year in Review
- 169 · If You Could Time Travel: A Colonial Wish List
- 171 · Choosing Your Favorite Colony of the Year
- 172 · History 3 Trivia Finale: Round 3
- 173 · Finishing Your History Portfolio
- 174 · Thank a Historical Figure
- 176 · History 3 Year in Review: Final Reflection
- 177 · One More Family History Story
- 178 · History 3 Trivia Finale: Round 4
- 179 · Getting Excited for History 4
- 180 · History 3 Complete! Final Celebration
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
By the end of the year, your child can
- Tell the story of ancient Rome from the Republic to its fall
- Describe who the Vikings were and how Leif Erikson reached North America
- Locate the thirteen colonies on a map and say why each was founded
- Compare New England, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies
- Tell the stories of Jamestown, the Pilgrims and William Penn
- Research a colony and present what they learned
Other 3rd Grade subjects: Math 3 · Reading 3 · Writing 3 · Science 3