getting grades

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Home : 2002 : October : 9

getting grades
By Carolyn

It's nice that you teach 3rd grade. At least you have kids who can write and do some things independently now.

As for activities for grades, have you tried having them do things like essays? When I taught social studies
to 3rd grade, I had my students write an letter to an imaginary Pilgrim when we were studying the Pilgrims. In the letter, they were to tell the Pilgrim about the time they live in and describe and ask questions about the Pilgrims' time. Interestingly, the kids did a nice job of this comparing and contrasting activity without knowing that they were actually doing a very useful language

arts activity.

You can also have them do things like little booklets. They can work cooperatively on maps, too. I have also had kids watch a content related video and have them answer questions on it for a grade after the video was over. Of course, you could assign a project for them to do, and that would involve their working at home on something--let's say an Indian village. Kids seem to love to do projects, and they bring social studies alive. You could also make up a little skit for them to act out. Their work in acting out the little skit could be graded, as could their cooperative effort. Also, don't be afraid to give them an independent reading assignment and grade it.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. I know how difficult it can be. I can only teach social studies one day a week this year. When you are limited on time, as we are, you do end up giving some independent work for grades.