What's included
Class Experience
This literature class is part one of a two part series that would cover an entire academic year. Though the title says "Grade 3" the chosen novels and the class work are suitable for a wide range of ages and I welcome anyone at this reading level to join! In fact, the Grade 3 and 4 classes are quite similar in reading level and could be taken in any order desired. I always suggest that parents choose which one of the levels to take based on the book list and their learner's interests rather than following closely to the age! I am also happy to answer any questions you might have about the book list or the class work. In this 16 week class, we will read and discuss three wonderful novels: Sarah, Plain and Tall, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Charlotte's Web. This is a flexible schedule class, which means that there will be no live meetings. Instead every Monday I will post a video about what we are reading that week, along with any assignments or other class materials students will need. During the week, students can log on and watch the video when they are able, then complete the assignments and answer questions about the readings on the classroom wall. We will start by reading Sarah, Plain and Tall, the heartwarming story of a pioneer family in need of a mother's love and the woman who comes to be part of their family. In our second book, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, we will meet a mouse who lives in a hotel but longs for adventure. Lastly, we will read Charlotte's Web, where we will find the true meaning of chosen family through a spider named Charlotte, a pig named Wilbur, and a little girl named Fern. All assigned chapters and activities are listed below by week so that you can get a good idea of how much reading the class entails every week. Learners will need to have a physical, digital, or audio copy of all four books: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan, The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary, and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Copies of each book can be borrowed from the library or purchased used fairly inexpensively. Students will be provided with a study guide to use throughout the class and can either print the guide or type directly onto it. Class One -Read Sarah, Plain and Tall Ch 1-3 -Guided discussion on chapters 1-3 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 1-3 -Begin filling in Character Traits worksheet Class Two -Read Sarah, Plain and Tall Ch 4-6 -Guided discussion on chapters 4-6 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 4-6 -Begin Book Themes worksheet -Diary Entry writing assignment Class Three -Read Sarah, Plain and Tall Ch 7-9 -Guided discussion on chapters 7-9 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 7-9 -Book Themes worksheet due -Venn Diagram Yourself and a Character assignment Class Four -Review Week! -Favorite Scene Illustration -Book Review assignment -Character Traits pages due Class Five -Read The Mouse and the Motorcycle Ch 1-4 -Guided discussion on chapters 1-4 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 1-4 -Begin filling in Character Traits worksheet Class Six -Read The Mouse and the Motorcycle Ch 5-7 -Guided discussion on chapters 5-7 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 5-7 -Book Themes worksheet Class Seven -Read The Mouse and the Motorcycle Ch 8-10 -Guided discussion on chapters 8-10 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 8-10 -Diary Entry writing assignment Class Eight -Read The Mouse and the Motorcycle Ch 11-13 -Guided discussion on chapters 11-13 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 11-13 -Venn Diagram Yourself and a Character assignment Class Nine -Review week! -Favorite Scene Illustration -Book Review assignment -Character Traits pages due Class Ten -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 1-3 -Guided discussion on chapters 1-3 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 1-3 -Begin filling in Character Traits worksheet Class Eleven -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 4-7 -Guided discussion on chapters 4-7 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 4-7 -Book Themes worksheet Class Twelve -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 8-10 -Guided discussion on chapters 8-10 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 8-10 Class Thirteen -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 11-14 -Guided discussion on chapters 11-14 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 11-14 -Diary Entry writing assignment Class Fourteen -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 15-18 -Guided discussion on chapters 15-18 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 15-18 Class Fifteen -Read Charlotte's Web Ch 19-22 -Guided discussion on chapters 19-22 -One Sentence Summaries for chapters 19-22 -Venn Diagram Yourself and a Character assignment Class Sixteen -Review Week! -Favorite Scene Illustration -Book Review assignment -Character Traits pages due
Learning Goals
Students will learn about character traits, plot, and themes.
Students will learn new vocabulary.
Students will learn to summarize what they have read.
Students will work on interpersonal skills as they discuss the novel with their peers.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Charlotte's Web includes the death of a main character and may be difficult for sensitive readers.
Supply List
Students will need to have a physical, digital, or audio copy of the following novels: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary Charlotte's Web by E.B. White I will provide a pdf of the study guide.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in History from Wilson College
Bachelor's Degree in History from Wilson College
Hi everyone! I'm Nicole Trusky, a homeschooling mom of three and lover of all things history and pop culture! I have a Master in Humanities with a concentration in American Studies and have been studying history for as long as I can remember (my Bachelors is in History and Political Science!). I have been homeschooling my own children since 2011 and have been teaching other homeschoolers since 2016.
I had a few wonderful professors who taught History through material culture and a focus on the lived experiences of marginalized groups in American History. This is something I'll be emphasizing in my Outschool courses because learning about the past is not just memorizing names and dates, but learning how people really lived! My history courses focus heavily on the lived experiences of the people of the past. We read lots of primary sources written by the people who lived it and we analyze those sources for bias, credibility, and more. My goal is to teach students to love history and to get into the habit of questioning what they read for reliability.
**Please note:
- All of my classes, especially my US History classes, are inclusive and anti-racist.
-Occasionally, I take time off for holidays or other reasons. These off days will always reflect in the set class dates and are not spur of the moment. However, I don't list off weeks in my class listings since I may have sections that the off days do not apply to. Please check all class section dates to make sure you are ok with the class run time and possible days off
-All listed class times are approximate. Often, I have very eager and quick students who whiz through material. I do not believe in busy work and feel that if students have learned the material, they do not need to be given additional work just to fill time. For this reason, classes may end 3-5 minutes early. I strive to NOT stay late in a class since I know many students are going from one class to the other and I don't want to make them late for their next class.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$7
weekly or $100 for 16 weeks16 weeks
Completed by 1 learner
No live video meetings
Ages: 7-10