3rd Grade CCSS: Reading: Literature

For third graders, this Common Core area helps students gain mastery of the deeper tasks involved in reading a fictional text. No matter what they are reading, the standards require students to increase the complexity in the texts they read and deepen their understanding of the connections within and between texts. Among the complete standards for this grade, third graders will be asked to: recount stories from diverse cultures and demonstrate their understand of the meaning using key details from the text, give detailed accounts of characters from a story their motivations and actions in relation to the plot, determine the meaning of words used in a story, understand how parts of a story build to a whole, differentiate their point of view as a reader as separate from the characters or narrator, understand the contribution of illustrations to the text, read grade appropriate literature that increases in complexity.

Aesop: Put the Events in Order

Aesop was a Greek writer who wrote stories called fables. A fable is a story that gives a lesson at the end. Students read through a fable and put the events in order.

Earth Day Acrostic Poem

A fun acrostic poem using the word, “earth”. An engaging activity for students in the early elementary grades.

Plot Actions Helper

Starting at the top of the castle, students write the first action in the story. Below that they write the second action, then the third, and then the fourth.

A Child’s Garden of Verses: The Moon

Studying certain authors is a great way to understand the different kinds of writings. Robert Louis Stevenson was one of the most versatile writers. In this free worksheet, students will learn about his writing The Moon. When you print it out, they will also be able to complete the activities to go along with it.

Build a Plot: Connect the Paragraphs

This worksheet includes the opening of a story and the end of a story. Students decide what the problem is, then what the steps, or plot actions, should be to link the beginning of the story with the end.

Build a Plot: Write the Steps

Students read the opening and ending of a story, and decide what the problem is, then what the steps, or plot actions, should be to link the beginning of the story with the end.

Character Description: Characters from Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Students will read two character descriptions of characters in the short story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and answer related questions.

Cielito Lindo Pretty Darling Reading Activity

The famous Mexican folk song, Celito Lindo, became popular in the late 19th century. It is now considered the official anthem of Mexico, and it has been recorded by many popular artists. In this printable Hispanic Heritage activity, students will read through an English translation of the words and answer comprehension questions about the passage.

Classic Literature: A Little Princess

A 5-worksheet set about Frances Hogsdon Burnett’s wrote “A Little Princess”.

Classic Literature: Heidi

Students will read about Heidi and her goats in this literary packet. Then they will answer questions and do activities designed to help comprehension.

Classic Literature: Old Mother West Wind

Thornton Burgess wrote Old Mother West Wind in 1910. The book has many stories about interesting characters, including Peter Rabbit,, Jimmy Skunk, and of course, Old Mother West Wind. Students read a passage from the story and complete a set of related activities.

Classic Literature: Patriot Poem: Paul Revere’s Ride

Students will develop reading comprehension skills as hey work on this activity about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem.

Classic Literature: Pinocchio

Here is a literary packet for students to complete after reading an excerpt from Pinocchio.

Classic Literature: Pollyanna

A reading comprehension set about Eleanor Porter’s book, Pollyanna.

Classic Literature: The Emperor’s New Clothes

A 5-worksheet set about Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” including reading comprehension questions, vocabulary exercises and more.

Classic Literature: The Little Mermaid

Hans Christian Andersen was a famous Danish writer of children’s stories and fairy tales. He wrote “The Little Mermaid” in 1837. Students read a passage from the story and then work on a series of activities including reading comprension, vocabulary, and more.