E.D. Hirsch - What Your Third Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Third-Grade Education

PARENTS AND EDUCATORS PRAISE

The Core Knowledge Series

Though I have twenty-five years teaching experience, this is my first year as a Core Knowledge teacher. Now, for the first time in a long time, I am excited about teaching again. As for my students, I seriously believe that many of them would eliminate summer vacation to get on with the business of learning!

Joan Falbey, teacher, Three Oaks Elementary School, Fort Myers, Florida

Thank you for writing such wonderful books! My children and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. Your books have been a great source and a guide to us. I have a degree in elementary education and I think this is the best curriculum I have encountered.

Barbara de la Aguilera, parent, Miami, Florida

For three years, we have been using elements of the CORE KNOWLEDGE program, and I have watched as it invigorated our students. These books should be in every classroom in America.

Richard E. Smith, principal, Northside Elementary School, Palestine, Texas

Hirsch made it quite clear (in Cultural Literacy) that respect for cultural diversity is important but is best achieved when young people have adequate background knowledge of mainstream culture. In order for a truly democratic and economically sound society to be maintained, young people must have access to the best knowledge available so that they can understand the issues, express their viewpoints, and act accordingly.

James P. Comer, M.D., professor, Child Study Center, Yale University (in Parents magazine)

2013 Bantam Books Trade Paperback Edition

Copyright 2001 by Core Knowledge Foundation

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Bantam Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

B ANTAM B OOKS and the rooster colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

CORE KNOWLEDGE is a trademark of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

Originally published in hardcover in the United States in 1992. A revised hardcover edition was published in 2001 by Doubleday, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., and subsequently in trade paperback in 2002 by Delta Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

What your third grader needs to know / [edited by]
E. D. Hirsch, Jr., John Holdren
ISBN 978-0-385-33626-0
eBook ISBN: 978-0-8041-8039-9
1. Third grade (Education)CurriculaUnited States.
2. Curriculum planningUnited States.
I. Hirsch, E. D. (Eric Donald), 1928 II. Holdren, John
LB1571.W55 2001
372.19
2005298877

www.bantamdell.com

Design by Bonni Leon-Berman

v3.1

Editor-in-Chief of the Core Knowledge Series: E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

Text Editors: John Holdren, Susan Tyler Hitchcock

Art Editor: Tricia Emlet

Writers: John Hirsch (Math), Michele Josselyn (Visual Arts),
Mary Beth Klee (American History), Barbara Lachman (Music),
Deborah Mazzotta Prum (World History), Christiana Whittington (Music)

Artists and Photographers: Jonathan Fuqua, Dave Garbot, Steve Henry, Sara Holdren Phillip Jones, Bob Kirchman, GB McIntosh, Mary Michaela Murray, Meg West.

Art Research and Permissions: Tricia Emlet

Text Permissions: Jeanne Nicholson Siler

This series has depended on the help, advice, and encouragement of more than two thousand people. Some of those singled out here already know the depth of our gratitude; others may be surprised to find themselves thanked publicly for help they gave quietly and freely. To helpers named and unnamed we are deeply grateful.

Advisors on Multiculturalism: Minerva Allen, Barbara Carey, Frank de Varona, Mick Fedullo, Dorothy Fields, Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Marcia Galli, Dan Garner, Henry Louis Gates, Cheryl Kulas, Joseph C. Miller, Gerry Raining Bird, Connie Rocha, Dorothy Small, Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, Sterling Stuckey, Marlene Walking Bear, Lucille Watahomigie, Ramona Wilson

Advisors on Elementary Education: Joseph Adelson, Isobel Beck, Paul Bell, Carl Bereiter, David Bjorklund, Constance Jones, Elizabeth LaFuze, J. P. Lutz, Sandra Scarr, Nancy Stein, Phyllis Wilkin

Advisors on Subject Matter: Marilyn Jager Adams, Karima-Diane Alavi, Richard Anderson, Judith Birsh, Louis A. Bloomfield, Cheryl Cannard, Barbara Foorman, Paul Gagnon, David Geary, Andrew Gleason, Ted Hirsch, H. Wiley Hitchcock, Henry Holt, Blair Jones, Connie Juel, Eric Karell, Morton Keller, Joseph Kett, Charles Kimball, Mary Beth Klee, David Klein, Barbara Lachman, Karen Lang, Michael Lynch, Diane McGuinness, Sheelagh McGurn, John E Miller, Joseph C. Miller, Jean Osborn, Vikas Pershad, Margaret Redd, Donna Rehorn, Gilbert Roy, Nancy Royal, Mark Rush, Janet Smith, Ralph Smith, Keith Stanovich, Paula Stanovich, Nancy Strother, David Summers, Nancy Summers, Marlene Thompson, James Trefil, Patricia Wattenmaker, Nancy Wayne, Christiana Whittington, Linda Williams Bevilacqua, Lois Williams

Writers and Editors: This revised edition involved a careful reconsideration of material in the first edition of this book and others in the series. In that spirit we acknowledge previous writers and current editorial staff at the Core Knowledge Foundation; Linda Bevilacqua, Nancy Bryson, Matthew Davis, Marie Hawthorne, Pamela C. Johnson, Blair Logwood Jones, Michael Marshall, James Miller, Elaine Moran, Kristen Moses, A. Brooke Russell, Peter Ryan, Lindley Shutz, Helen Storey, Souzanne Wright

Conferees, March 1990: Nola Bacci, Joan Baratz-Snowden, Thomasyne Beverley, Thomas Blackton, Angela Burkhalter, Monty Caldwell, Thomas M. Carroll, Laura Chapman, Carol Anne Collins, Lou Corsaro, Henry Cotton, Anne Coughlin, Arletta Dimberg, Debra P. Douglas, Patricia Edwards, Janet Elenbogen, Mick Fedullo, Michele Fomalont, Mamon Gibson, Jean Haines, Barbara Hayes, Stephen Herzog, Helen Kelley, Brenda King, John King, Elizabeth LaFuze, Diana Lam, Nancy Lambert, Doris Langaster, Richard LaPointe, Lloyd Leverton, Madeline Long, Allen Luster, Joseph McGeehan, Janet McLin, Gloria McPhee, Marcia Mallard, William J. Maloney, Judith Matz, John Morabito, Robert Morrill, Roberta Morse, Karen Nathan, Dawn Nichols, Valeta Paige, Mary Perrin, Joseph Piazza, Jeanne Price, Marilyn Rauth, Judith Raybern, Mary Reese, Richard Rice, Wallace Saval, John Saxon, Jan Schwab, Ted Sharp, Diana Smith, Richard Smith, Trevanian Smith, Carol Stevens, Nancy Summers, Michael Terry, Robert Todd, Elois Veltman, Sharon Walker, Mary Ann Ward, Charles Whiten, Penny Williams, Clarke Worthington, Jane York

Schools: Special thanks to Three Oaks Elementary for piloting the original Core Knowledge Sequence in 1990. And thanks to the schools that have offered their advice and suggestions for improving the Core Knowledge Sequence, including (in alphabetical order): Academy Charter School (CO); Coleman Elementary (TX); Coral Reef Elementary (FL); Coronado Village Elementary (TX); Crooksville Elementary (OH); Crossroads Academy (NH); Gesher Jewish Day School (VA); Hawthorne Elementary (TX); Highland Heights Elementary (IN); Joella Good Elementary (FL); Mohegan School-CS 67 (NY); The Morse School (MA); Nichols Hills Elementary (OK); North East Elementary (MD); Ridge View Elementary (WA); R. N. Harris Elementary (NC); Southside Elementary (FL); Thomas Johnson Elementary (MD); Vienna Elementary (MD); Washington Core Knowledge School (CO). And to the many other schools teaching Core Knowledgetoo many to name here, and some of whom we have yet to discoverour heartfelt thanks for sharing the knowledge!