English Language Arts — Grade 3

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Inferring how and why characters change

In this lesson, the teacher models how to evaluate the methods and reasons characters change in literature. Students learn to consider the underlying reasons why the character has changed and how to support those inferences with evidence from the text.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

I'm gonna sit right down and write someone a letter

Through the vast online resources available from EDSITEment, you and your students can read the correspondence of the famous, the infamous and the ordinary, some of whom lived through extraordinary times. Use these fascinating letters as a starting point... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Guided comprehension: Evaluating using the meeting of the minds technique

This lesson from ReadWriteThink introduces students to the comprehension strategy of evaluating. Students learn how to evaluate information using the meeting of the minds technique, a strategy that teaches them to act out the opposing views of two or more... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Graphing plot and character in a novel

Students graphically illustrate events in the plot of the story, The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis in this lesson that analyzes sequences of events. The teacher introduces this lesson with... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Get the reel scoop: Comparing books to movies

In this lesson, students compare and contrast books with their movie counterparts and learn to think critically about different forms of media. After the class reads a novel, the teacher activates prior knowledge about books that have been turned into movies.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Genre study: A collaborative approach

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students experience and develop interest in literature, which includes multicultural, gender, and ethnic diversity. After identifying literary elements, students improve comprehension by interpreting, analyzing, synthesizing,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Figurative language: Teaching idioms

In this lesson, students explore figurative language with a focus on the literal versus the metaphorical translations of idioms. Through read-alouds, teacher modeling, and student-centered activities presented in the classroom, students further develop... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Figurative language awards ceremony

In this lesson, students find examples of their favorite literary devices in texts they have read throughout the course. Before beginning this activity, students should already be familiar with figurative language such as simile, metaphor, and personification.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Fairy tales, then and now

In this lesson, students read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They'll then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture and will conclude... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: Xpeditions

Fairy tales from life

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will read fairy tales and identify common elements. Choosing common situations and working in small groups, students will draw storyboards of their fairy tale and then write the fairy tale. Project will conclude... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Exploring cause and effect using expository texts about natural disasters

Students explore cause and effect relationships in this lesson that focuses on expository texts. In the first session, the teacher activates prior knowledge about cause and effect by presenting students with everyday situations and engaging students in... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Examining plot conflict through a comparison/contrast essay

In these sessions, students explore picture books to identify the characteristics of four types of conflict: character vs. character, character vs. self, character vs. nature, and character vs. society. In the initial activity, students write what they... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Did you say spiders?

This lesson supports students' natural curiosity about spiders and builds upon their prior knowledge. Students work cooperatively using response journals and online resources to inquire into the world of spiders, gather information about various types of... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Dancing minds and shouting smiles: Teaching personification through poetry

Students learn about personification in this lesson that uses “The Sky is Low” by Emily Dickinson, “Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room” by William Blake, and “April Rain Song” by Langston Hughes. After the teacher... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Creating comic strips

This lesson from ARTSEDGE looks at the way we communicate information/ideas through various mediums (words, symbols, illustrations, etc). When analyzing comic strips, students notice that each has a different style, point of view, setting, plot, and summary,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education and English Language Arts)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Creating classroom community by crafting themed poetry collections

In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students create poetry collections with a back-to-school theme of “getting to know each other.” Students write poetry with the goal of introducing themselves, helping to create a sense of classroom community,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Composing cinquain poems with basic parts of speech

After learning about the parts of speech, students explore the cinquain poem, a type of poetry that uses nouns, verbs, and adjectives in a specific order. Students evaluate several sample cinquain poems for structure and similar characteristics. Using a... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Compiling poetry collections and a working definition of poetry

This ReadWriteThink lesson introduces poetry forms and craft elements while students explore poetry about everyday topics or themes. Focusing on poetry in this way allows students to delve deeply into their own creativity. When students have the opportunity... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Comparing Tales through Performance

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students identify the similarities and differences between a traditional and a contemporary version of The Three Little Pigs. Students act out scenes from each of the stories and are assessed based on how well they... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 English Language Arts and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Comics in the classroom as an introduction to narrative structure

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students will examine the plot and narrative structure of a story through the use of comic strip frames. They will then write their own original narratives after creating comic strip storyboards as a prewriting exercise. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink