THE THIRD GRADE is often called a turning point of childhood. Nine-year-olds feel themselves growing apart from the world, becoming separated and independent and beginning to question all that was previously taken for granted. This questioning is accompanied by a serious stream of interest in everything practical such as 'How is a house built?' and "Where does my food come from?'. In the third grade, children study Old Testament stories to learn about people's first struggles to live on the earth, to make shelters and to work the land. They study house building, naturally learning weights and measures, and learn about gardening, farming and cooking. These acquired skills are translated into their handwork as they make a "house for their heads" in creating knitted hats. There is much counting and measuring when adding patterns to their handwork.