Access teacher-created lessons aligned to topics specified by the Core Knowledge Sequence for study in Grade 3. These third grade lesson plans may be adapted for use at other grade levels but are most effective when integrated into a coherent and cumulative school-wide instructional plan.
The Core Knowledge Foundation extends its sincere thanks to all teachers who developed these third grade lessons for our National Conferences (1992-2011) or through their participation in the Colorado Unit Writing Project (1999-2004).
Important Note
These teacher-created lessons have not been vetted by the Core Knowledge Foundation nor reviewed by content experts. Contact us if you have questions regarding posted lessons.
Third Grade Lesson Plans by Subject
Language Arts
I. Reading and Writing
All About Me
Write On! Step-by-Step Paragraph and Report Writing
Tales from Arabia: Lessons in Literature and Character
The “Write” Stuff: Third Grade Strategies and Conventions for Expository Writing
Step Into Writing
Using a Writing Workshop
Open Sesame: A Magical World of Reading
II. Poetry
Pageant of Poetry: A Center Approach
Understanding Eletelephony and Other Small Words Through Poetry
Patchwork Poetry
Poetry: Developing A Taste
III. Fiction
Astronomy, Mythology, and Music
“Adventures in Wonderland” A Genre Story
Tales from Arabia: Lessons in Literature and Character
Gods of Thunder: Myths and Mythical Characters
Alice in Wonderland
The Wind in the Willows
IV. Sayings and Phrases
History and Geography
World:
I. Geography
A River Runs Through It
Spatial Connections, Grades 1–4
We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands: Geography — Spatial Sense
Canada: A Land Rich in Beauty and Culture
Hands Across the Border — Welcome to Canada!
Where Am I? Navigating Around the Globe
II. Ancient Rome
Byzantine Civilization: The Missing Link
When in Rome…Activate the Abstract
Veni, Vidi, Vici
Geography: Ancient Rome
Foundations of Ancient Rome
III. The Vikings
Be a Viking!
A-Viking We Will Go
Leif Ericsson (Leif “the Lucky”) and Unsung Discoverer
The Vikings of Scandinavia
American:
I. The Earliest Americans
Earliest Americans and Their Environments
Earliest Americans
A Quest for the Earliest Americans
II. Early Exploration of North America
Early Exploration of North America
The Quest for an Empire: Youth, Gold, and Land
Conquistadors
Age of Exploration
III. The Thirteen Colonies: Life and Times Before the Revolution
Life in the Southern Colonies
How America Began
Bubble and Squeak
Putting It In Writing With the Southern Colonies
Visual Arts
I. Elements of Art
Melting Pot to Salad Bowl: Part of a Healthy Artistic Diet
Get Moving: An Integrative Investigation of Rhythm & Movement
Double Meaning: “The Peaceable Kingdom” by Edward Hicks
Masterpiece Magic: The Marriage of Writing and Visual Arts
Art Smart!
II. American Indian Art
III. Art of Ancient Rome and Byzantine Civilization
Living Art-i-facts: Technology Takes Us There!
Colossal Structures and Sculptures
Music
I. Elements of Music
No third grade lesson plans available
II. Listening and Understanding
Astronomy, Mythology, and Music
A Music-Science Connection
Sounds Alive!
III. Songs
No third grade lesson plans available
Mathematics
I. Numbers and Number Sense
II. Fractions and Decimals
III. Money
Money for Entrepreneurs
Money Makes the World Go Around
IV. Computation
Literature Computations
Manipulatives x Problem Solving = Fun!
V. Measurement
Measurement Marathon
Bubble and Squeak
Exploring Area
Let’s Measure!
VI. Geometry
Third Grade Shapes Up!
Lines and Designs
Shape Up!
Science
I. Introduction to Classification of Animals
II. The Human Body
Hearing: How the Ear Works
Muscles and Bones: Framework and Movement
School Gets On Our Nervous System
Sounds Alive!
III. Light and Optics
Seeing is (Sometimes) Believing
I “Light” What I See!
IV. Sound
A Music-Science Connection (2002)
Sounds Alive!
V. Ecology
Gone Green: Grade 3 Ecology
For the Love of our Earth
Appreciating the Animal Kingdom
VI. Astronomy
Astronomy, Mythology, and Music
Our Universe: Always Moving, Always Changing
Astronomy – Surfin’ in the Solar System
Mission Possible: Looking at Explorations and Sensational Creations in Outer Space
VII. Science Biographies
Hearing: How the Ear Works
The Bold and the Beautiful: Scientists Past & Present
Sounds Alive!
