New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum 3rd Grade ELA Activities
Printable Third Grade English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides.
Consonant BlendsWhat are Consonant Blends? Consonant blends are two or more letters that work together. When a word is sounded out, both of the letters in a consonant blend are heard. For example, in the word small, the s and the m are blended together in sounding the sm. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 Vowel DiphthongsFreeVowel diphthongs are vowel letters whose sounds blend smoothly together. The same sounds can be spelled using different letters. Read more...iWorksheets: 27Study Guides: 2 AntonymsFreeAntonyms are words that mean the opposite, or nearly the opposite, as other words. Read more...iWorksheets: 7Study Guides: 1 High Frequency Words IHigh frequency words are those words that a third grader should be able to read quickly, without sounding them out. They appear often in stories and books read by third graders. High frequency words are also known as sight words. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1 High Frequency Words IIHigh frequency words are those words that a third grader should be able to read quickly, without sounding them out. They appear often in stories and books read by third graders. High frequency words are also known as sight words. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1 SynonymsWhat are synonyms? Synonyms are words that mean the same, or nearly the same, as other words. Read more...iWorksheets: 7Study Guides: 1 InferenceWhat is an Inference? An inference is a Reading skill. When the reader puts together his or her life experiences with the words of the author, he or she is using inferencing skills. A student who uses inferencing skills can read between the lines to figure out what the author means. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 Author's Purposethe author's purpose is the reason that he or she had for writing the text. Some authors' purposes are to inform, entertain or persuade. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1 GenreHistorical fiction, Science fiction, biography, autobiography, folktale, fairy tale, and poetry. Read more...iWorksheets: 3 Sequential OrderSequential order is the order in which events really happened - real-life order. Something that is sequential often follows a numerical or alphabetical order. Read more...iWorksheets: 10Study Guides: 1 Fact/Fiction/OpinionA fact can be proven. An opinion is the way that someone feels about a subject and it cannot be proven. Being able to tell the difference between a fact and an opinion will improve your reading comprehension. Read more...iWorksheets: 9Study Guides: 1 Problem/SolutionThe problem of a story is the trouble or difficulty in which the main character of a story find himself or herself. <br>
The solution of a story is the way that the character or characters in the story figure out or solve the problem of the story. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1 Capitalization/PunctuationHow Should a Sentence End? A sentence should end with a punctuation mark: period (.) for a statement. Question mark (?) for a question. Exclamation point (!) for a sentence that shows excitement. Read more...iWorksheets: 6Study Guides: 1 Coherent ParagraphsA paragraph is a group of sentences about one topic. The sentences are related to each other, and they make sense. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 Combining SentencesWrite correctly complete sentences of statement, command, question, or exclamation, with final punctuation. Declarative, Imperative and Exclamatory. Read more...iWorksheets: 4 Friendly LetterThere are five parts in a friendly letter. The parts of a friendly letter are the heading, the greeting, the body, the closing, and the signature. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 Rules for WritingCombining two simple sentences. Two simple sentences can be combined by using words called conjunctions to join them. Some examples of conjunctions are: and, but, or. Read more...iWorksheets: 8Study Guides: 1 Topic SentenceThe topic of a paragraph is the word or words that tell what the paragraph is about. The topic should be related to all of the sentences in the paragraph. Being able to pick out the topic of the paragraph helps the reader to understand the meaning of the paragraph. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1 NY.3R. 3rd Grade Reading Standards (Literary and Informational Text)
Key Ideas and Details
3R2. Determine a theme or central idea and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize portions of a text. (RI&RL)
Main IdeaThe main idea is the overall theme of a paragraph or section of a text. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 Theme of WritingA literary theme is the main idea a writer explores in a story or other literary work. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions). Read more...iWorksheets :3 Supporting DetailsSupporting details support the main idea of a text. Supporting details tell you more about the main idea of the text. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 SummarizingWhen you summarize you take a large selection of text and condense it to just the main facts or ideas. A summary is significantly shorter than the actual text. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 3R3. In literary texts, describe character traits, motivations, or feelings, drawing on specific details from the text. (RL) In informational texts, describe the relationship between a series of events, ideas, concepts, or steps in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. (RI)
Elements of FictionA character is a person in a story, novel, or play. <br> The setting in a story is where the story takes place.<br> The plot of a story is what goes on in the story. It's a series of events that gives story a meaning. <br>All of the above are elements of a fiction. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Cause/EffectAn action that results in something else happening is called the cause. The result of an action is called the effect. In real-life order, the cause happens first. Read more...iWorksheets :6Study Guides :1 Theme of WritingA literary theme is the main idea a writer explores in a story or other literary work. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions). Read more...iWorksheets :3 Supporting DetailsSupporting details support the main idea of a text. Supporting details tell you more about the main idea of the text. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Cause/Effect, Fact/OpinionWhat is Cause & Effect? A cause always has an effect. There is a reason why something happens. An effect happens as a result of a cause. Something happens for a reason. Read more...iWorksheets :8Study Guides :1 Story ElementsWhat are the Elements of a Story? Story elements are plot, setting, and characters. Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. Read more...iWorksheets :6Study Guides :1 Craft and Structure
3R4. Determine the meaning of words, phrases, figurative language, and academic and content-specific words. (RI&RL)
Content Area VocabularyDetermine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to grade 4 topic or subject area. Read more...iWorksheets :3 Literary DevicesLiterary Devices refers to the typical structures used by writers in their works to convey his or her messages in a simple manner to the readers. Literary Devices are Metaphor, Simile, Hyperbole, Personification, Analogy, Euphemism, Allegory etc... Read more...iWorksheets :3 3R5. In literary texts, identify parts of stories, dramas, and poems using terms such as chapter, scene, and stanza. (RL) In informational texts, identify and use text features to build comprehension. (RI)
Text FeaturesThe title of an article is called a headline. A headline usually tells the main idea of what the article is about. Headlines often grab your attention and make you want to read the article. Read more...iWorksheets :7Study Guides :1 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
3R7. Explain how specific illustrations or text features contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a text (e.g., create mood, emphasize character or setting, or determine where, when, why, and how key events occur). (RI&RL)
Elements of FictionA character is a person in a story, novel, or play. <br> The setting in a story is where the story takes place.<br> The plot of a story is what goes on in the story. It's a series of events that gives story a meaning. <br>All of the above are elements of a fiction. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Theme of WritingA literary theme is the main idea a writer explores in a story or other literary work. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions). Read more...iWorksheets :3 Story ElementsWhat are the Elements of a Story? Story elements are plot, setting, and characters. Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. Read more...iWorksheets :6Study Guides :1 3R9. Recognize genres and make connections to other texts, ideas, cultural perspectives, eras, personal events, and situations. (RI&RL)
Literary GenresLiterary genre is the grownup way of saying different kinds of writing. The word genre is pronounced zhan rah. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 NY.3RF. 3rd Grade Reading Standards: Foundational Skills
Phonics and Word Recognition
3RF3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
3RF3a. Identify and know the meaning of the most common prefixes and suffixes.
Word Meaning with Prefixes/SuffixesPrefixes are letters placed before a root word which change the meaning of the root word. Suffixes are letters placed after the root word which change the meaning of the root word. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 SuffixesA suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 PrefixesA prefix is any letter or group of letters that is added to the front of a
base word to change the meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 Roots/Prefixes/SuffixesWhat are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes? A root word is a word with no prefixes or suffixes added to it. A root word is the basic element, the base, of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word to form a new word. A suffix is added to the ending of a root word to form a new word. Adding a prefix or suffix to a root word can change the meaning of that root word. Read more...iWorksheets :9Study Guides :1 3RF3c. Decode multi-syllabic words.
PhonicsPhonics is a method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with symbols in an alphabetic writing system. Read more...iWorksheets :3 3RF3d. Identify, know the meanings of, and decode words with suffixes (e.g., -full, -action, -it)
PhonicsPhonics is a method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with symbols in an alphabetic writing system. Read more...iWorksheets :3 Word Meaning with Prefixes/SuffixesPrefixes are letters placed before a root word which change the meaning of the root word. Suffixes are letters placed after the root word which change the meaning of the root word. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 SuffixesA suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Roots/Prefixes/SuffixesWhat are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes? A root word is a word with no prefixes or suffixes added to it. A root word is the basic element, the base, of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word to form a new word. A suffix is added to the ending of a root word to form a new word. Adding a prefix or suffix to a root word can change the meaning of that root word. Read more...iWorksheets :9Study Guides :1 Fluency
3RF4. Read grade-level text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
3RF4b. Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
VocabularyWhat are Adjectives, Adverbs, Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homographs? An adjective describes a noun or a pronoun. An adverb can tell you how, where, or when something is done. Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. Synonyms are words that have almost the same meaning. Homographs are words that have more than one definition. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Context CluesFreeContext cluesare hints found in a text that may help to figure out the meaning of a difficult word. A context clue might be in the same sentence, the sentence before, or the sentence after the difficult word. Read more...iWorksheets :7Study Guides :1 Context CluesWhat are Context Clues? When you are reading, you will come to words you do not know. You can learn the meaning of those words by looking for the clues in the sentence around that word. The clues will help you understand the meaning of the new word even if you cannot pronounce it. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 NY.3W. 3rd Grade Writing Standards
Text Types and Purposes
3W2. Write informative/explanatory texts to explore a topic and convey ideas and information relevant to the subject.
3W2b. Develop a topic with facts, definitions, and details; include illustrations when useful for aiding comprehension.
3W2d. Use linking words and phrases to connect ideas within categories of information.
3W2e. Provide a concluding statement or section.
3W3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
3W3c. Use words and phrases related to time to signal event order.
NY.3SL. 3rd Grade Speaking and Listening
Comprehension and Collaboration
3SL2. Determine the main ideas and supporting details or information presented in diverse texts and formats (e.g., including visual, quantitative, and oral).
Theme of WritingA literary theme is the main idea a writer explores in a story or other literary work. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions). Read more...iWorksheets :3 Supporting DetailsSupporting details support the main idea of a text. Supporting details tell you more about the main idea of the text. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 NY.3L. 3rd Grade Language Standards
Conventions of Standard English
3L1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Core Conventions Skills for Grades 3→5:
3L1.2. Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general as well as in particular sentences.
NounsNoun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality Read more...iWorksheets :3 GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 VocabularyWhat are Adjectives, Adverbs, Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homographs? An adjective describes a noun or a pronoun. An adverb can tell you how, where, or when something is done. Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. Synonyms are words that have almost the same meaning. Homographs are words that have more than one definition. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 NounsA noun is a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things, or to name a particular one of these. Read more...iWorksheets :3 Adjectives/Adverbs/ParticlesWhat is adverb? An adverb is a word or an expression that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, level of certainty, answering questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent? Read more...iWorksheets :3 VerbsA verb is a word that shows action or state of being. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 3L1.4. Explain the function of conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections in general as well as in particular sentences.
GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 3L1.5. Form and use regular and irregular plural nouns.
NounsNoun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality Read more...iWorksheets :3 GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Spelling WordsWhy is Spelling Important? It is important to spell words correctly when writing. There are some words that are difficult to learn and to remember how to spell correctly. Homonyms, plurals, and possessive words are often difficult to
remember how to spell correctly. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 PluralsPlurals is the grammatical category in nouns, pronouns, and verbs that refers to more than one thing. Read more...iWorksheets :3 3L1.7. Form and use regular and irregular verbs.
GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 VerbsA verb is a word that shows action or state of being. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 3L1.8. Form and use the simple verb tenses (e.g., I walked; I walk; I will walk).
Past Tense (-ed)Past tense means something happened in the past. It could be many years ago, yesterday, or just a few minutes ago. Verbs change in special ways to show past tense. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 3L1.13. Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.
3L1.15. Use and identify prepositional phrases.
3L1.17. Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).
HomophonesWhat are Homophones? Homophones are words that sound exactly alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are sometimes called homonyms. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 3L2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. Core Punctuation and Spelling Skills for Grades 3→5:
3L2.2. Use correct capitalization.
3L2.3. Use commas in addresses.
3L2.8. Form and use possessives.
NounsNoun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality Read more...iWorksheets :3 GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Spelling WordsWhy is Spelling Important? It is important to spell words correctly when writing. There are some words that are difficult to learn and to remember how to spell correctly. Homonyms, plurals, and possessive words are often difficult to
remember how to spell correctly. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 NounsA noun is a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things, or to name a particular one of these. Read more...iWorksheets :3 3L2.9. Use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words, and to add suffixes to base words (e.g., sitting, smiled, cries, happiness).
R Controlled VowelsR-controlled vowels are vowels in which the r following the vowel changes the sound of the vowel. Sometimes, we call the r a bossy letter because it takes over and bosses the vowels around! Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Word Meaning with Prefixes/SuffixesPrefixes are letters placed before a root word which change the meaning of the root word. Suffixes are letters placed after the root word which change the meaning of the root word. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 Syllables/Spelling PatternsWords can be divided into syllables. Spelling patterns include groups of letters. A spelling pattern is a group of letters that represents a sound. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 SuffixesA suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Roots/Prefixes/SuffixesWhat are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes? A root word is a word with no prefixes or suffixes added to it. A root word is the basic element, the base, of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word to form a new word. A suffix is added to the ending of a root word to form a new word. Adding a prefix or suffix to a root word can change the meaning of that root word. Read more...iWorksheets :9Study Guides :1 3L2.10. Use spelling patterns, rules, and generalizations (e.g., word families, position-based spellings, syllable patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts) in writing words. → Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
R Controlled VowelsR-controlled vowels are vowels in which the r following the vowel changes the sound of the vowel. Sometimes, we call the r a bossy letter because it takes over and bosses the vowels around! Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 Syllables/Spelling PatternsWords can be divided into syllables. Spelling patterns include groups of letters. A spelling pattern is a group of letters that represents a sound. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 3L2.11. Use quotation marks or italics to indicate titles of works.
GrammarGrammar is the subject which tells how to speak and write correctly. It is a set of rules that define the structure of a language. Here are some grammar rules you should know. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
3L4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
3L4a. Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
VocabularyWhat are Adjectives, Adverbs, Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homographs? An adjective describes a noun or a pronoun. An adverb can tell you how, where, or when something is done. Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. Synonyms are words that have almost the same meaning. Homographs are words that have more than one definition. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Context CluesFreeContext cluesare hints found in a text that may help to figure out the meaning of a difficult word. A context clue might be in the same sentence, the sentence before, or the sentence after the difficult word. Read more...iWorksheets :7Study Guides :1 Context CluesWhat are Context Clues? When you are reading, you will come to words you do not know. You can learn the meaning of those words by looking for the clues in the sentence around that word. The clues will help you understand the meaning of the new word even if you cannot pronounce it. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 3L4b. Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known affix is added to a known word (e.g., agreeable/disagreeable, comfortable/ uncomfortable, care/careless, heat/preheat).
Word Meaning with Prefixes/SuffixesPrefixes are letters placed before a root word which change the meaning of the root word. Suffixes are letters placed after the root word which change the meaning of the root word. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 SuffixesA suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1 PrefixesA prefix is any letter or group of letters that is added to the front of a
base word to change the meaning. Read more...iWorksheets :5Study Guides :1 Roots/Prefixes/SuffixesWhat are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes? A root word is a word with no prefixes or suffixes added to it. A root word is the basic element, the base, of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word to form a new word. A suffix is added to the ending of a root word to form a new word. Adding a prefix or suffix to a root word can change the meaning of that root word. Read more...iWorksheets :9Study Guides :1 3L4c. Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., company, companion).
Root WordsWhat are Root Words? Root words are sometimes called base words. A root word is the smallest form of a word before it has anything added to it. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Roots/Prefixes/SuffixesWhat are Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes? A root word is a word with no prefixes or suffixes added to it. A root word is the basic element, the base, of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word to form a new word. A suffix is added to the ending of a root word to form a new word. Adding a prefix or suffix to a root word can change the meaning of that root word. Read more...iWorksheets :9Study Guides :1 3L4d. Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries to determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
Parts of a BookFreeA book often has several parts that make finding information easier for readers. They are: title, introduction, body, conclusion, and back cover. Read more...iWorksheets :10Study Guides :1 3L5. Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
3L5a. Distinguish the literal and nonliteral meanings of words and phrases in context (e.g., take steps).
VocabularyWhat are Adjectives, Adverbs, Antonyms, Synonyms, and Homographs? An adjective describes a noun or a pronoun. An adverb can tell you how, where, or when something is done. Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. Synonyms are words that have almost the same meaning. Homographs are words that have more than one definition. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 Context CluesFreeContext cluesare hints found in a text that may help to figure out the meaning of a difficult word. A context clue might be in the same sentence, the sentence before, or the sentence after the difficult word. Read more...iWorksheets :7Study Guides :1 Context CluesWhat are Context Clues? When you are reading, you will come to words you do not know. You can learn the meaning of those words by looking for the clues in the sentence around that word. The clues will help you understand the meaning of the new word even if you cannot pronounce it. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 3L6. Acquire and accurately use conversational, general academic, and content-specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships (e.g., After dinner that night we went out for dessert).
Content Area VocabularyDetermine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to grade 4 topic or subject area. Read more...iWorksheets :3 Standards
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