Language Arts

Grade 3: Oral and Visual Communication

Overall Expectations

•communicate messages, and follow and give directions for a variety of activities and events;

•listen to discussions and ask questions to clarify meaning;

•retell stories, demonstrating an understanding of basic story structure and including information about characters, action, and story ending;

•talk about characters and situations in stories, and information and ideas in non-fiction materials;

•apply the rules for working with others;

•view, read, and listen to media works that convey messages or information and talk about what they have learned;

•create a variety of simple media works;

•use the conventions (e.g., sentence structure) of oral language, and of the various media, that are appropriate to the grade (see below). 

Specific Expectations

Use of Words and Oral Language Structures

•use linking words such as although, instead of, and so that to organize and clarify ideas in speech;

•rephrase to clarify their ideas (e.g., what I meant was, when I think about);

•speak on a variety of topics in classroom discussions using some specialized language (e.g., metres in measurement), and select words carefully to convey their intended meaning;

Non-verbal Communication Skills

•use appropriate volume, tone of voice, gestures, and stance when speaking, making a presentation, or reading aloud;

•use pauses and repetition effectively for emphasis in speech;

Group Skills

•contribute ideas appropriate to the topic in group discussion and listen to the ideas of others;

Media Communication Skills

•identify basic elements of text (e.g., size of print) and basic techniques (e.g., different tones of voice in audio productions) that help convey the message in print and media materials;

•use basic terminology (e.g., close-up, low angle) to discuss visual images in print and electronic media;

•create simple media works (e.g., create a series of shots using a still video camera or still camera and then display them for the class).

Expectations: Copyright The Queen's Printer for Ontario, 1997.  With thanks to B.Phillips, 1998.

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