At some point in the third or fourth grade year, students will realize that childhood is ending. This is often referred to as the “9-year change”. The story that most perfectly meets the inner experience of this realization is the story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Freedom has a new feel to it in the third grade. The thrill of naughtiness has worn off and the full import of freedom begins t
o take hold of the soul – freedom and independence are understood to be linked. The gravity of this situation does not escape the child, and they seem heavier day by day.
Supporting a child’s confidence in his or her ability to become independent is the gesture of the Third-Grade year. This is done through helping children develop practical skills, learning about human vocations and how people make a way for themselves in the world and experiencing the world with many curriculum-based field trips.