English Language Arts — Grade 3

The Big, Bad, Red Wolf: Fact and Fantasy

This lesson will explore the myths and legends surrounding wolves. We will also investigate factual information about the endangered red wolf.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Computer Technology Skills)

By steven sather.

The Birchbark House

This study guide was created by a group of third grade enrichment students. They were planning to read this book but could find no published guide to go with it. They decided to create their own as they read.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Carolyn Ridgway.

Comparing/Contrasting Characters (A Taste of Blackberries)

This lesson is designed to use with Chapter 1 of the novel A Taste of Blackberries. Students will use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the two main characters and then relate the material to their own lives.

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

By Denise Caudle.

Visualizations: Black poet, Langston Hughes

Third grade or fourth grade students will have an opportunity to read and appreciate selected poetry of the African-American poet, Langston Hughes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

By Floanna Long.

The Wolf in Children's Books: Part 1 of 2

Students will explore the ways wolves are represented in children's stories. They will decide if the wolf is a protagonist or an antagonist in the story. They will also attempt to determine if these representations are scientifically accurate. The first in a two-part lesson.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts and Information Skills)

By Vanessa Olson.

Lesson plans on the web

Be a reading detective: Finding similarities and differences in ideas

In this lesson, students use graphic organizers and clue words to compare and contrast items in nonfiction writing. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Beanie Baby prices soar

Students learn about supply and demand through the sale of Beanie Babies. (Learn more)

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

Provider: National Council on Economic Education

Blending fiction and nonfiction to improve comprehension and writing skills

Introduces text sets to increase student interest in and understanding of content area material and to develop critical writing skills. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–6 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Book clubs: Reading for fun

In this lesson, small groups of students create, organize, and run book clubs in order to promote reading for fun. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Born on a mountaintop? Davy Crockett, tall tales, and history

Students explore Tall Tales and create one of their own. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

Charting characters for a more complete understanding of the story

Introduces the instructional strategy of Character Perspective Charting. This method is designed to reflect the actual complexity of stories that may not be reflected by the use of traditional story maps. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Comparing Tales through Performance

Students identify the similarities and differences between a traditional and a contemporary version of The Three Little Pigs. (Learn more)

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

Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Creating family timelines: Graphing family memories and significant events

Students explore family memories, interview family members, and create a timeline of important events in their lives. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Arts)

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Daily book boost

Each day at the end of their independent reading time, students give “book boosts,” one-minute raves about books they’ve read. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Dancing minds and shouting smiles: Teaching personification through poetry

In this lesson, students learn about personification by reading and discussing poems by Emily Dickinson, William Blake, and Langston Hughes. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Demonstrating comprehension through journal writing

Students demonstrate comprehension by responding to open-ended questions based on the 1939 Newbery Honor chapter book, Mr. Popper's Penguins. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Developing inferential comprehension through DL-TA and discussion webs

Uses the narrative text Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell to help students improve their inferential comprehension, prediction, and discussion skills. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Developing students' critical thinking skills through whole-class dialogue

After reading a story, students answer an open-ended question about an issue that could have multiple perspectives. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Escaping slavery: “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt”

Using the picture book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, students create a problems/solutions/events chart to help them understand the relationships between Clara's problems and how she solves them. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE

Exploring cause and effect using expository texts about natural disasters

In this lesson, students explore the nature and structure of expository texts focusing on cause and effect. (Learn more)

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

Provider: IRA/NCTE