In Grade 3, there are three classes that form a closely knit group called a “pod.” Within this setting, students are encouraged to become independent learners, to problem solve, and to develop social skills. Students work according to their own abilities and personal learning styles.

The Grade 3 Pod integrates learning of the arts and academics through curricular themes that, as much as possible, also involve all four arts areas: Drama, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts. Teachers work closely together, constantly sharing ideas and meeting weekly to plan overall strategies for the pod. Most of the field trips taken by this grade are done as a pod.

Grade 3 students pursue their arts education in dedicated arts studios, such as the new 1-5 Art Studio. Monthly “town gatherings” allow students to share works in progress with other students and parents, while a larger show, usually held in the spring, integrates all four arts areas with core subjects. Music nights are held twice a year (December and in the spring) and the school’s Mary Pratt Gallery hosts a yearly Grade 3 art show. Many performances take place in LFAS’s professional-standard, 300-seat Chief Sepass Theatre, allowing even young students the experience of appearing in a “real” theatre.