English Language Arts — Grade 3

Resources on the web

The magical world of Russian fairy tales

This EDSITEment lesson focuses on several imaginative and exciting Russian fairy tales. Students review some of the common fairy tale elements that are present within these stories, which also may remind them of more familiar European fairy tales. Students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Literature as a catalyst for social action: Breaking barriers, building bridges

In this lesson, picture books challenge students to confront the injustice of social barriers that separate human beings from one another and to examine the role of prejudice and stereotypes in sustaining these barriers. During this lesson, students... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Letter poems deliver: Experimenting with line breaks in poetry writing

Students learn to demonstrate their understanding of line breaks and how format creates dramatic effect by writing their own letter poems. As a whole class, students use the Letter Poem Interactive tool, which demonstrates how to turn a letter into a poem... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Leading to great places in the elementary classroom

The lead of a story is the beginning, and yet it can be the end if the reader is not entranced immediately. This lesson from ReadWriteThink examines types of leads in promininent children's literature and asks students to try their own hand at writing leads.... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Integrating literacy into the study of the Earth's surface

Students learn about bodies of water on the Earth's surface in this lesson that uses read-alouds, trade books, and journals. Students will: Gain knowledge of the different bodies of water on the Earth's surface by listening to science... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

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

Guided comprehension: Previewing using an anticipation guide

Based on the Guided Comprehension Model developed by Maureen McLaughlin and Mary Beth Allen, this lesson from ReadWriteThink introduces students to the comprehension strategy of previewing. Students use an anticipation guide to preview and make predictions... (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

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

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

Fables and trickster tales around the world

This lesson plan from EDSITEment introduces students to folktales, such as fables and trickster tales, from around the world. Students become familiar with different folklore traditions and genres, as well as the process of the oral transmission of culture... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: EDSITEment

Exploring the subtext strategy: Thinking beyond the text

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students take the perspectives of various characters in a story and think beyond the written text. Students act as the assigned characters and speak aloud, expressing their interpretations of the characters' thoughts and feelings... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Escaping slavery: “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt”

This lesson, from ReadWriteThink, uses the picture book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson and an interactive website to enhance students' understanding of the Underground Railroad and slavery. The teacher... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Developing students' critical thinking skills through whole-class dialogue

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students listen to a book read aloud by the teacher or read it silently by themselves. After reading, students answer an open-ended question about an issue that could have multiple perspectives. Students take positions,... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Developing inferential comprehension through DL-TA and discussion webs

This lesson from ReadWriteThink uses the narrative text Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell to help students improve their inferential comprehension, prediction, and discussion skills. Before reading, students answer discussion questions... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Demonstrating comprehension through journal writing

In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students demonstrate comprehension by responding to open-ended questions based on the 1939 Newbery Honor chapter book, Mr. Popper's Penguins. Students draw from the text and their personal experiences to... (Learn more)

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

Provided by: ReadWriteThink