The education standards for Tennessee are established by the Tennessee Department of Education. According to the department's Grade Level Expectation (GLE) code book, all elementary educational programs in the state should ensure that third-graders have a proficient understanding of the English language. Students should be able to demonstrate appropriate usage of words and phrases, grammar, spelling and sentence structure, as well as pronunciation.The students should understand the concept of nouns, verbs, adjectives and pronouns, and be able to apply these concepts to write simple and compound sentences. Third-graders should also demonstrate the essential listening and speaking skills that are required to effectively communicate, and display the ability to write correctly in diverse styles and for a variety of purposes. Furthermore, third-graders should be able to successfully conduct research and exercise solid logic and reasoning skills.
According to the Tennessee Department of Education, third-graders in the state must demonstrate an adequate comprehension of math, along with the ability to apply their knowledge to solve various types of problems. This includes an understanding of mathematical language, definitions and symbols, and they should be able to use their mathematical reasoning skills to solve word problems, formulate patterns and analyze graphs. Subjects that third-graders should understand include multiplication, division, fractions and the place value of whole numbers to the 10,000th place in arithmetic. They should also know about measurements as well as geometric concepts such as congruence, symmetry, and two- and three-dimensional figures. Additionally, students must utilize their skills to effectively communicate and express mathematical ideas and concepts using words, tables or graphs.
Third-grade students in Tennessee should demonstrate an ability to explore different scientific issues by asking questions, asserting logical predictions, conducting investigations, recording data and analyzing the resulting information. The students should also understand and describe how significant technological equipment, tools and inventions help humans solve challenging problems and answer difficult questions. They should understand the concepts of cells, animal and plant parts, the functions of those parts, the categories and stages of life, heredity, genetics, and how similar organisms compete with each other for resources. They should possess a strong knowledge of matter, energy and how animals use food for growth. Students must also display knowledge regarding Earth and the universe, and the materials, land forms and major water bodies that form the Earth.
According to the education standards, Tennessee third-graders should understand significant historical events as well as the diversity of cultures, including the impact of values, knowledge, beliefs, changes and traditions that influence people in those cultures. They should be able to describe cultures in different geographical regions of the world, as well as the significant individuals and racial, religious, ethnic or socioeconomic groups that have influenced the development of various civilizations. As for related subjects, third-graders should understand economic concepts such as globalization, goods and services, imports and exports, and the patterns and results of international trade. Furthermore, the students should demonstrate a thorough comprehension of geography and an ability to effectively use maps and globes and to locate and identify major physical features. They also must understand concepts such as government, democracy, the roles of citizenship, the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution.