THIRD GRADE • YEAR AT A GLANCE
Reading, Word Recognition & Writing
Open any module to see the big idea, texts, reading focus, word-recognition skills, and writing project families can expect.
MODULE 1
SeptemberWhat a Character!
What makes a character interesting?
+
Unit overview
Students meet memorable characters and study how their actions, feelings, traits, and points of view shape a story.
Stories and texts
- Zach Jumps In!
- Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match
- Judy Moody, Mood Martian
- Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout
- Scaredy Squirrel
Reading focus
Realistic fiction, point of view, literary elements, and theme
Word recognition & spelling
Open and closed syllables, three-consonant blends, schwa, contractions, soft c and g, and -tch/-dge
Writing
Personal narrative
MODULE 2
OctoberUse Your Words
How do people use words to express themselves?
+
Unit overview
Students explore letters, poems, wordplay, and the many ways writers communicate feelings and ideas.
Stories and texts
- A LOL Story
- Wordy Birds
- Dear Primo
- Adventures with Words
- The Upside Down Boy
- Dear Dragon
Reading focus
Figurative language, point of view, character, poetry, and text and graphic features
Word recognition & spelling
VCe syllables, ch sounds, ph and gh, and consonant doubling when adding suffixes
Writing
Letter writing
MODULE 3
NovemberLet Freedom Ring
How do historic places, documents, and symbols represent the United States?
+
Unit overview
Students read informational texts about American ideals, civic symbols, historic documents, and national celebrations.
Stories and texts
- American Places, American Ideals
- Patriotic Tunes
- The U.S. Constitution
- Why We Celebrate the Fourth of July
- The Flag Maker
- Why Is the Statue of Liberty Green?
Reading focus
Central idea, text structure, media and text features, and author’s purpose
Word recognition & spelling
Suffix spelling changes, consonant-le syllables, and long a and long i patterns
Writing
Informational descriptive essay
MODULE 4
December–JanuaryStories on Stage
How can a play be an effective way to tell a story?
+
Unit overview
Students compare drama with other stories and learn how dialogue, stage directions, scenes, and characters bring a tale to life.
Stories and texts
- That’s Entertainment!
- The Lion King’s Friend
- The Saga of Pecos Bill
- The Traveling Trio: Český Krumlov
- Gigi and the Wishing Ring
- Two Bear Cubs
Reading focus
Elements of drama, comparing plays and stories, literary elements, and theme
Word recognition & spelling
Long o, long u, and the different sounds of the vowel team oo
Writing
Narrative story
MODULE 5
January–FebruaryTeamwork
What can sports teach us about working together?
+
Unit overview
Sports stories help students examine cooperation, competition, perseverance, and the choices teammates make.
Stories and texts
- Teamwork = Victory!
- Competition, Cooperation—and Fun!
- Soccer Shootout
- Bend It Like Bianca
- Running Rivals
- Brothers at Bat
Reading focus
Realistic fiction and nonfiction, literary elements, theme, author’s purpose, and craft
Word recognition & spelling
R-controlled vowels and homophones
Writing
Persuasive letter
MODULE 6
February–MarchAnimal Behaviors
What behaviors help animals survive?
+
Unit overview
Students investigate animal life cycles, structures, and behaviors that help living things survive in their environments.
Stories and texts
- Frozen Alive
- Living Glass
- This Is Your Life Cycle
- The Nose Awards
- Octopus Escapes Again!
- T.J. the Siberian Tiger Cub
Reading focus
Central idea, text structure, author’s purpose, and evidence in nonfiction
Word recognition & spelling
VC/CV syllable division, vowel teams au/aw/ough/al/augh, and diphthongs oi/oy/ou/ow
Writing
Expository essay
MODULE 7
MarchMake a Difference
How can one person make a meaningful difference?
+
Unit overview
Students read about people who improve their communities through gardening, conservation, storytelling, and service.
Stories and texts
- Let’s Build a Park!
- The Eco-Troubadour
- Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table
- One Plastic Bag
- Energy Island
- The Storyteller’s Candle
Reading focus
Narrative nonfiction, author’s purpose, text structure, and point of view
Word recognition & spelling
V/CV and VC/V syllable division, silent-letter combinations, and V/V review
Writing
Opinion essay
MODULE 8
AprilImagine! Invent!
What does it take to make a successful invention?
+
Unit overview
Students explore how curiosity, problem-solving, testing, and persistence lead inventors from an idea to a useful creation.
Stories and texts
- A Century of Amazing Inventions
- (Some of) the Greatest Inventions
- Timeless Thomas
- A Bumpy Ride
- Rosie Revere, Engineer
- Edison’s Best Invention
Reading focus
Central idea, text structure, claims and evidence, and author’s purpose
Word recognition & spelling
Prefixes un-, re-, pre-, in-, dis-, mis-, fore-, pro-, intra-, inter-, and trans-
Writing
Research report
MODULE 9
April–MayFrom Farm to Table
How does food move from a farm to our plates?
+
Unit overview
Students trace the journey of food and learn about farms, gardens, production, transportation, and the people involved.
Stories and texts
- Great Ideas from Great Parents!
- Lobster Bait
- How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?
- Carrots, Farm to Fork
- How Do You Raise a Raisin?
- It’s Our Garden
Reading focus
Central idea, text structure, and text and graphic features
Word recognition & spelling
Prefixes non-, over-, sub-, super-, semi-, and anti-
Writing
Poetry
MODULE 10
May–JuneTell a Tale
Why is it important to pass stories to the next generation?
+
Unit overview
Students enjoy fables and traditional tales while considering how stories carry culture, lessons, and imagination across time.
Stories and texts
- Why We Share Stories
- Aesop’s Fables
- When the Giant Stirred
- Why the Sky Is Far Away
- Cinder Al and the Stinky Footwear
- Compay Mono and Comay Jicotea
Reading focus
Author’s craft, theme, figurative language, culture, and comparing tales
Word recognition & spelling
Prefixes mid- and post-, irregular past-tense verbs and plurals, and suffixes -y, -ly, and -ful
Writing
Imaginative story