3rd grade English Curriculum

3rd grade English Units

Open any unit to see the full lesson path. The summaries below are rendered in static HTML for clear curriculum discovery.

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  1

  Unit 1

  Grammar: Nouns & Pronouns

  This unit focuses on identifying and correctly using different types of nouns, including abstract and plural forms, and understanding pronouns.

  Identify Common and Proper Nouns

  First steps

  1. 1Introduction to Common Nouns
  2. 2Introduction to Proper Nouns
  3. 3Form Regular Plural Nouns
  4. 4Form Irregular Plural Nouns
  5. 5Introduction to Abstract Nouns
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  2

  Unit 2

  Grammar: Verbs & Tenses

  This unit focuses on identifying verbs and understanding how to use regular and irregular verbs in simple past, present, and future tenses.

  Identify Verbs and Their Types

  First steps

  1. 1Introduction to Action Verbs
  2. 2Introduction to Linking Verbs
  3. 3Use Verbs in Simple Tenses (Present, Past, Future)
  4. 4Form Regular Verbs in Simple Tenses
  5. 5Form Irregular Verbs in Simple Tenses
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  3

  Unit 3

  Grammar: Sentences & Agreement

  This unit covers constructing complete sentences, identifying fragments and run-ons, and ensuring subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

  Identify and Produce Complete Sentences

  First steps

  1. 1Identify Subjects and Predicates
  2. 2Distinguish Complete Sentences from Fragments
  3. 3Distinguish Complete Sentences from Run-ons
  4. 4Maintain Subject-Verb Agreement
  5. 5Maintain Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
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  4

  Unit 4

  Punctuation & Capitalization

  This unit teaches correct use of capitalization, commas in addresses and dialogue, and quotation marks.

  Apply Capitalization Rules

  First steps

  1. 1Capitalize Sentence Beginnings
  2. 2Capitalize Proper Nouns
  3. 3Capitalize Words in Titles
  4. 4Use Commas in Addresses
  5. 5Use Commas with Dialogue
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  5

  Unit 5

  Word Study: Phonics & Multisyllabic Words

  This unit builds foundational reading skills by focusing on decoding multisyllabic words and recognizing advanced vowel patterns.

  Decode Multisyllabic Words

  First steps

  1. 1Identify Closed Syllables
  2. 2Identify Open Syllables
  3. 3Recognize Vowel-Consonant-E Syllables
  4. 4Read Words with Vowel Teams
  5. 5Read Words with R-Controlled Vowels
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  6

  Unit 6

  Vocabulary: Context Clues & Reference

  This unit teaches students to determine the meaning of unknown words using surrounding text and reference materials.

  Use Context Clues to Determine Word Meaning

  First steps

  1. 1Context Clues: Definitions
  2. 2Context Clues: Examples
  3. 3Context Clues: Synonyms
  4. 4Context Clues: Antonyms
  5. 5Clarify Multiple-Meaning Words
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  7

  Unit 7

  Literature: Story Elements & Details

  This unit introduces students to key literary elements like setting, plot, and characters, and how to recount a story.

  Recount Stories and Identify Central Message

  First steps

  1. 1Identify Story Setting
  2. 2Identify Story Characters
  3. 3Identify Major Plot Events
  4. 4Recount Key Details of a Story
  5. 5Determine Central Message, Lesson, or Moral
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  8

  Unit 8

  Literature: Characters & Point of View

  This unit explores character analysis, how character actions drive the plot, and distinguishing between narrator and reader perspectives.

  Analyze Characters and Their Actions

  First steps

  1. 1Describe Character Traits
  2. 2Analyze Character Dialogue and Actions
  3. 3Understand Character Motivations
  4. 4Explain How Character Actions Drive Events
  5. 5Distinguish Narrator's View from Reader's View
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  9

  Unit 9

  Informational Text: Main Idea & Details

  This unit teaches students to identify the main idea and key supporting details in informational texts and to summarize them.

  Identify Main Idea and Key Details

  First steps

  1. 1Identify the Main Idea
  2. 2Identify Key Supporting Details
  3. 3Ask and Answer Questions with Explicit Text Evidence
  4. 4Summarize Informational Text in Sequence
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  10

  Unit 10

  Informational Text: Features & Structure

  This unit teaches students to use various text features to navigate informational texts and understand organizational structures.

  Use Text Features and Search Tools

  First steps

  1. 1Use Headings, Glossaries, and Indexes
  2. 2Use Information from Illustrations, Maps, Charts
  3. 3Distinguish Author Point of View from Student Point of View
  4. 4Describe Temporal and Procedural Relationships
  5. 5Describe Cause and Effect Relationships
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  11

  Unit 11

  Narrative Writing: Storytelling

  This unit guides students through planning and drafting narrative stories with clear sequencing, descriptive details, and dialogue.

  Plan and Draft Narrative Stories

  First steps

  1. 1Plan Narrative: Beginning, Middle, End
  2. 2Add Descriptive Details to Narrative
  3. 3Include Dialogue with Punctuation
  4. 4Use Temporal and Linking Words
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  12

  Unit 12

  Informational Writing: Explanations

  This unit guides students through planning and drafting informational texts with clear topic focus, facts, definitions, and details.

  Plan and Draft Explanatory Texts

  First steps

  1. 1Plan: Topic and Main Idea
  2. 2Include Facts and Supporting Details
  3. 3Use Definitions and Examples
  4. 4Draft Coherent Paragraphs
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  13

  Unit 13

  Opinion Writing: Persuading Readers

  This unit teaches students to plan and write opinion pieces with clear claims, supported reasons, and strong conclusions.

  Plan and Draft Opinion Writing

  First steps

  1. 1State a Clear Opinion or Claim
  2. 2Provide Reasons to Support an Opinion
  3. 3Use Linking Words to Connect Opinion Ideas
  4. 4Write a Strong Conclusion
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  14

  Unit 14

  Writing Process: Revise & Edit

  This unit focuses on refining written work through revision for clarity and organization, and editing for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

  Revise for Clarity and Organization

  First steps

  1. 1Add or Remove Details for Clarity
  2. 2Improve Sentence and Paragraph Organization
  3. 3Edit for Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling
  4. 4Choose Effective Words and Sentence Patterns
  5. 5Use Digital Tools to Draft and Publish
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  15

  Unit 15

  Vocabulary: Word Relationships

  This unit focuses on understanding relationships between words, including synonyms, antonyms, and shades of meaning.

  Identify Relationships Among Words

  First steps

  1. 1Identify Synonyms
  2. 2Identify Antonyms
  3. 3Understand Shades of Meaning
  4. 4Distinguish Literal from Nonliteral Meanings
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  16

  Unit 16

  Word Study: Affixes

  This unit teaches students to use prefixes and suffixes to understand and spell unfamiliar words.

  Use Prefixes and Suffixes to Determine Meaning

  First steps

  1. 1Introduction to Prefixes
  2. 2Identify Common Prefixes: un-, re-, pre-
  3. 3Introduction to Suffixes
  4. 4Identify Common Suffixes: -ful, -less, -er
  5. 5Use Root/Base Words to Determine Meaning
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  17

  Unit 17

  Year-end Synthesis: Research and Presenting Ideas

  This unit integrates research, writing, and speaking skills to conduct short projects and present findings clearly.

  Conduct Short Research Projects and Report Findings

  First steps

  1. 1Choose a Research Topic
  2. 2Gather Information from Multiple Sources
  3. 3Take Notes and Sort Evidence
  4. 4Cite Source Support from Texts
  5. 5Report on a Topic with Clear Sequence and Facts
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  18

  Unit 18

  Extension: Analyzing Complex Texts

  This unit challenges students to deepen their understanding of literature and informational texts through advanced analysis and comparison.

  Compare Themes, Settings, and Key Points Across Texts

  First steps

  1. 1Compare Themes by Same Author or Series
  2. 2Compare Settings and Plots by Same Author or Series
  3. 3Compare Key Points Across Two Informational Texts
  4. 4Stretch: Evaluate Author's Evidence and Reasoning