Third Grade Gulledge Elementary


	Curriculum Overview

Meet the Third Grade Team

Kyndra Kitchens	Loren Pignone	Heather Cain
Kara Karm		Briget Holdridge

Kyndra Kitchens

Kyndra Kitchens graduated in 2000 from the University of Oklahoma with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She continued on at the University of Oklahoma to receive her Master’s degree in Elementary Education in May of 2002. She is the third grade team leader.
E-mail her at kyndra.kitchens@pisd.edu

Loren Pignone

Loren Pignone joined the Gulledge staff in January 2006. She graduated from University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdispciplinary Studies.
E-mail her at loren.pignone@pisd.edu

Heather Cain

Heather Cain graduated from the University of Texas Arlington with a degree in interdisciplinary Studies with EC-4 certification. She has taught in Waco and Longview, Texas.

E-mail her at heather.cain@pisd.edu

Kara Jordan

Kara Karm received her degree in Early Childhood-Fourth from Baylor University. She joined the third grade team in 2005.

E-mail her at kara.jordan@pisd.edu

Briget Holdridge

Briget has taught fourth grade for since 1998. She graduated from Arkansas State University in 1994 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education, and received her Masters in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2001. Before coming to Plano she taught in Allen.

E-Mail her at briget.holdridge@pisd.edu

Third Grade Curriculum We combine science and social studies into what we call Integrated Curriculum. This encompasses all content areas and provides children with hands-on discovery learning. Below are the six Integrated Curriculum units studied in third grade:
1. Continuity and Change---A Matter of Time
      Students focus on Plano History and map skills in this study of continuity and
      change in our world. They learn about matter as well as home, school, travel,
      and fire safety. The unit culminates with a trip to Heritage Farmstead and the
      making of a class quilt.
2. Interactions---Seeking Reasonable Solutions
     Students focus on animal life cycles, health and illness, and simple machines.
     The unit culminates with a student-created Fair Day. The fair includes animal
     exhibits as well as a midway comprised of games made by students.
3. Diversity---Proud to be an American
     Students focus on diversity in every aspect of their lives as they learn about
     five countries (England, China, Japan, Kenya, and Mexico).   They also study
     magnetism, safety, and electricity. Each classroom becomes a country and
     packs a trunk full of information gathered through research. The unit culminates
     with the rotation of the classroom trunks to all other third grade classrooms.
4. Systems---Where Would We Be Without Systems?
     Students focus on the components and functions of various systems such as
     transportation, local government, electricity, and money. The unit culminates with
     circuit boards created by each student.
5. Communication---The Fine Arts of Sharing
     Students focus on communication and the concepts of light and sound. They
     look at the anatomy of the ear and eye, as well as learning about sound waves
     and the spectrum. The unit culminates with student-written poetry describing a
     color using all five senses.
6. Balance and Stability---Drawing Upon Our Resources
     Students focus on the environment, natural resources, the food pyramid, and
     Earth Day activities. They also look at economics and geography as they study
     their community as a resource and seek to balance their daily activities. The unit
     culminates with the students planning balanced summer activities using
     community resources.