homework for third grade

3rd Grade Worksheets

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442 3rd Grade Worksheets

10 times tables

This coloring math worksheet helps your third grader conceptualize counting and multiplying by 10.

2 pairs of feet

How many pairs of feet do you see? This coloring math worksheet introduces your third grader to multiplying by 2 with cute pictures of feet.

2 times tables

This coloring math worksheet helps your third grader conceptualize counting and multiplying by 2.

3 times tables

In this coloring math worksheet, your third grader gets practice counting by 3s and identifying number patterns.

This geometry math worksheet gives your child practice identifying each vertex in various 3-dimensional shapes.

3rd grade spelling words (list #1 of 36)

Welcome to the first of our weekly spelling lists for your third grader!

3rd grade spelling words (list #10 of 36)

Welcome to the 10th of our weekly spelling lists for your third grader!

3rd grade spelling words (list #11 of 36)

Welcome to the 11th of our weekly spelling lists for your third grader!

3rd grade spelling words (list #12 of 36)

Welcome to the 12th of our weekly spelling lists for your third grader!

3rd grade spelling words (list #13 of 36)

Welcome to the 13th of our weekly spelling lists for your third grader!

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Third Grade Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Grade 3 stories and exercises.

Use these free, printable worksheets to practice and improve reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing. Included are fiction and non-fiction passages at a grade 3 level.  All worksheets are pdf files.

Leveled stories & reading worksheets

These leveled stories worksheets are from our series of leveled reading workbooks .  Each successive level provides greater reading challenge. Reading exercises follow each story.

Children's stories

Free children's stories for third grade . Each passages isfollowed by 6 questions. These fiction and non-fiction texts are 350-450 words long.

These historical passages and fables are followed by comprehension questions.  Exercises involve recalling information directly from the text as well as concepts such as prediction, inference and character traits.

Reading comprehension exercises for grade 3

These grade 3 reading worksheets focus on specific comprehension topics such distinguishing fact from opinion and sequencing events.

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3rd Grade Reading Comprehension

The printable reading comprehension worksheets listed below were created specially for students at a 3rd grade reading level. Each file includes a fiction or nonfiction reading passage, followed by a page of comprehension questions.

Fiction Stories

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Readers' Theater

Nonfiction articles, short passages, read aloud practice, reading comprehension files by grade:.

Reading comprehension passages specially written for students at a 1st grade level.

Reading comprehension stories, poems, and articles written at a 2nd grade reading level.

Reading comprehension passages written at a 4th grade reading level.

More advanced stories, poems, and articles written at a 5th grade reading level.

Literature circle role sheets, book bingo printables, book report forms, and other reading worksheets.

These nonfiction reading comprehension articles feature all types of animal species.  Read level: 3rd through 5th.

Comprehension Worksheet Images

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18 Unique Third Grade Reading Comprehension Activities Your Students Will Love

Build crucial literacy skills with these fun activities

By the third grade, most students are really starting to get the hang of reading. They are enthusiastic readers, with preferences for particular themes and genres and opinions about everything they read. Here are 18 third grade reading comprehension activities that will help them dig deeper into what they’re reading and build skills to carry them to the next level.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Build a Comprehension Cootie Catcher

Turn reading comprehension into a fun game with these free cootie catchers. There are three different versions available, and each has questions that will help your students dig deeper into their reading. Each cootie catcher tackles elements of third grade reading comprehension like character, plot, setting, problem, and solution, and the questions are general enough that they can be used with any book.

Learn more: The Classroom Game Nook

2. Practice determining importance

Have you ever asked a student to summarize a story, only to hear them include every little detail? Or maybe they only retell a small part of the text, excluding important characters or events. What these readers need to learn is to discriminate between what is and what isn’t important. And in order to do this, they must sort through the actions and/or information they’ve read and decide on their importance. This is where graphic organizers come in. Check out the blog below for two effective lessons on determining importance.

Learn more: This Reading Mama

3. Play a round of Roll and Retell

One of the best ways to help students build comprehension is giving them a chance to talk about what they’ve read. This is a fun game to play, and all you need is a pair of dice. Students can pair up and share information with one another about what they’ve read. Or they can work solo and roll the dice and write out their answers.

Learn more: Home School Giveaways

4. Practice inferring with wordless books

Wordless picture books are great for making inferences. Use this free graphic organizer along with wordless picture books. On the graphic organizer, students describe what they noticed in the illustration and what they were able to infer from that illustration. Students could practice on their own or work with a partner or small group. Have each student or group use a different  book or use the same book and then compare the inferences.

Learn more: Ashleigh’s Education Journey

5. Make a paper chain of connections

Good readers make connections as they read. Track your students’ connections with this engaging visual activity from Brooke at Literacy in Focus. First, students write their connections on colored strips of paper (each type of connection is made on a different color). Next, students link up their connections and attach them to the corresponding text-connections label or poster (see the example bulletin board at the link below). Links can be added throughout the year as new texts are read. The link-up activity makes a great visual representation of the entire text-connections process.

Learn more: Literacy in Focus

6. Use story maps

Story maps give students a framework to record their thinking before, during, and after reading. From spider webs and stars to Venn diagrams and shaped maps, there are endless formats of story maps available online. Try the 15 free versions below.

Learn more: Education.com

7. Build inference skills

Check out this blog for eight fun activities to build students’ inference skills, including watching short films, reading wordless books, and using picture task cards.

Learn more: The Teacher Next Door

8. Summarize using basic signal words

As students read a text, they keep track of words that answer the questions who, what, when, where, how, and why by writing them on a sticky note. After they write the words, they attach their sticky notes to a record sheet. Once they finish their note taking, they summarize the story using their notes.

9. Bat around a beach ball

Using a Sharpie marker, write different questions for students to answer about the book they are reading. Hit different elements such as character, problem and solution, setting, connections, predictions, etc. Kids will have a blast batting the inflatables around as they build comprehension skills.

Learn more: Conversations in Literacy

10. Run a nonfiction relay race

According to instructor Clio Stearns, Ph.D ., “Kinesthetic games allow third graders to put their bodies to use alongside their minds and can be particularly helpful for students who do not like to sit still or who benefit from multi-sensory approaches to learning.”

One of her ideas for boosting reading comprehension is to run a nonfiction relay race. This activity is great after reading a nonfiction book or article together. Break students into teams and head to the gym or outdoors. Set up a racecourse, for instance 100 yards marked off by flags or one lap around the track. The first student on each team will run the course, and once they return, and before the next student in line can run, they must repeat one fact they learned from the reading. The first team to have all runners complete the course wins. 

Learn more: First Cry Parenting

11. Hold a Book Character Day

Kids love Book Character Day! It gives them a chance to show how much they really know about one of their favorite characters. Encourage them to dress as their character and carry props that are part of their story. Maybe they’d even like to act like and talk in the voice of their character. Be sure to set aside time for each student to tell their classmates about the character they chose and why.

Learn more: Shann Eva’s Blog

12. Retell a story with rock painting

Take a classic childhood art project—rock painting—and add a story for a creative, engaging third grade reading comprehension project. In this activity, children will read a book, then retell the story with pictures they have painted on stones.

13. Play a board game

There are many fun board games for the classroom that boost literacy skills, including Scrabble, Story Cubes, Tall Tales, Hedbanz, and more. Try this fun option, which has three different board games that students can play to boost their reading comprehension. Put it on your classroom wish list!

Buy it: Comprehension Board Game Trio on Amazon

14. Make a game show of it

Try a fun game show–style class game for third grade reading comprehension. It’s easy to play a Jeopardy-style game, interactive tic-tac-toe, or a team game where students buzz in with the answer. (Check out these fun game show buzzers on Amazon.) Divide students into teams, then ask comprehension questions by topic or just randomly. Give teams time to talk about the answer before sharing it. This allows students to learn from each other, explain their thinking, and prove their answers.

Learn more: A Love of Teaching

15. Track your thinking with sticky notes

According to Home Reading Helper , one great way for students to remember and internalize what they read is by using sticky notes. Using these symbols as a guide, students place a sticky note with the appropriate symbol next to a line in a book to show their thinking as they read.

Learn more: RB Comprehension Strategies

16. Be a word detective

We can teach inferring for a variety of purposes. Students can infer how a character feels or why they behave in a certain way. They can even infer the theme of a book. This engaging activity focuses on inferring the meanings of unfamiliar words. Using the free download, students pick out “mystery words,” make a guess as to what the word means, identify clues, and write a sentence using the word.

Learn more: The Measured Mom

17. Create anchor charts together

From marking a text to visualizing to understanding a character’s journey, there’s a comprehension anchor chart for it. There are more than 35 colorful samples for you to build along with your students during direct instruction time.

Learn more: Reading Comprehension Anchor Charts

18. Make “wanted” posters

Your kids will love this fun writing and drawing activity that demonstrates their understanding of character development. After reading a story, kids will use what they know about the bad guy in a book to create a wanted poster.

Learn more: Education.com and Happy Teacher Happy Students

Looking for more ways to encourage third grade reading comprehension? Check out our list of 60 best third grade books .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and tricks by signing up for our newsletters .

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Step 1: Letter Identification

Step 2: uppercase and lowercase recognition, step 3: letter-sound correspondence, step 4: sequential recall, step 5: contextual recognition, step 6: application in reading.

Recognizing letters is a crucial part of a child’s early education. It lays the groundwork for reading and writing, but can be challenging due to differences in uppercase and lowercase forms, sounds, and letter order. This guide on how to teach letter recognition offers simple steps to help kids grasp these important concepts and develop strong literacy skills .

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How to Teach Letter Recognition to Kids in 6 Easy Steps

This initial step focuses on introducing children to the concept of identifying letters individually, often starting with uppercase letters because they tend to have more distinctive shapes compared to lowercase letters.

When to Start: Begin this step as soon as your child shows interest in written characters or by the age of 3, which is typically when children start showing curiosity about letters and words.

How to Do It:

• Show and Tell: Use large, colorful flashcards with a single uppercase letter on each. Show the cards one by one, and clearly pronounce the name of each letter.
• Interactive Games: Employ fun games designed for learning to recognize letters, where children can see and interact with letters in a fun and engaging way.

Get started with these games:

By the end of this step, your child should be able to:

• Recognize and name several uppercase letters.
• Understand that each letter is unique and has its own name.
• Begin identifying letters when they see them in other environments, like in books or on signs.

After children are comfortable with uppercase letters, introduce them to lowercase ones. This step focuses on teaching letter recognition by helping them understand that each letter has a “big” (uppercase) and “small” (lowercase) form that represents the same sound.

When to Start: Start this step once your child can identify most uppercase letters reliably, usually around 3.5 years old.

• Pairing Exercise: Create or use flashcards that show both forms of each letter side by side. Teach letter identification by pointing out and pronouncing the “big” and “small” versions of each letter.
• Matching Games: Set up a matching game where children connect uppercase and lowercase pairs of the same letter.

Get started with these Uppercase & Lowercase matching games :

• Identify both uppercase and lowercase forms of several letters.
• Match uppercase letters to their lowercase counterparts.
• Recognize that both forms of a letter produce the same sound.

This step bridges the gap between knowing what a letter looks like and understanding its role in language. Here, you’ll be teaching letter sound recognition so children can associate each letter with the sounds it represents.

When to Start: Begin this step once your child is familiar with uppercase and lowercase forms, usually around 3-4 years old.

• Phonics Songs

Use fun phonics songs that pair each letter with a word beginning with that letter. For instance, “A is for apple, B is for ball.”

• Alphabet Cards: Show alphabet cards featuring a letter with an image that starts with the same sound, like “A” for “apple.
• Repetition and Practice: Repeat the letter sounds while pointing to the letters to reinforce teaching alphabet recognition.

Here are some fun worksheets to practice letter sound correspondences:

• Recognize the sounds associated with various letters.
• Match a letter to a sound and provide an example word that starts with that sound.
• Understand the role of letter sounds in forming words.

In this step, children learn to recall letters in their proper sequence, which is crucial for alphabet fluency and later for decoding words. 

When to Start: Begin once your child can identify individual letters reliably, usually around 4-5 years old.

• Sequencing Games: Play games that involve placing letter cards in alphabetical order.

• Alphabet Song Practice: Sing the alphabet song together, encouraging your child to follow along and repeat.

Here are some alphabet song games :

• Alphabet Chart: Use an alphabet wall chart and have children point to each letter as they sing or say the alphabet aloud.
• Recall the letters of the alphabet in the correct order.
• Recognize that each letter has a specific place in the sequence.
• Begin to understand how knowing this sequence helps with decoding words.

In this step, children start recognizing letters within different contexts, such as in words or sentences, rather than only in isolation. This involves identifying letters at the beginning, middle, and end of words.

When to Start: Introduce this step once children are familiar with letter names and sounds and can recognize some letters consistently, usually around 5-6 years old.

• Letter Games: Play games that involve finding letters in words or on signs.

• Read Simple Books: Begin with books that feature clear, simple words. Read together, and ask your child to point out letters they recognize.
• Label Everyday Objects: Label common objects in the house or classroom and encourage your child to find specific letters.
• Identify letters when they appear at different positions in words.
• Recognize letters in real-world contexts like signs, labels, and books.
• Understand how letter recognition strategies can be applied to reading words in sentences.

In this step, children start using their letter recognition skills to read simple words. This is the beginning of using their knowledge practically, helping them progress towards independent reading.

When to Start: Begin this step once your child has a solid grasp of letter sounds and recognition, usually around 5-6 years old.

• CVC Words Practice: Introduce simple Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) words like “cat” and “dog” to show how letters combine to form words.

Here are some fun activities to introduce CVC words :

• Simple Sentences: Use simple sentences containing familiar words, helping children recognize letters and read the words aloud.
• Phonics Books: Provide early phonics readers that reinforce alphabet recognition.
• Apply their letter recognition skills to read simple words.
• Recognize letters when they appear in words and sentences.
• Start combining letter sounds to read short words.

Teaching children how to recognize letters is a vital part of their early education. By following these structured steps, you’ll know how to teach letter recognition effectively, from distinguishing uppercase and lowercase to applying these skills in reading. With consistent practice and engaging activities, kids will confidently master this foundational skill and be ready for more advanced literacy challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the fastest way to teach letter recognition.

The fastest way to teach abc recognition is by using engaging, repetitive activities like singing the alphabet song , playing letter-matching games, and reading alphabet books that introduce letters and their sounds.

What are the 4 components of letter recognition?

The four components are identifying the letter name, distinguishing between uppercase and lowercase forms, knowing the letter sound, and recognizing letters within words or contexts.

What is the best way to teach alphabet recognition to struggling students?

For students struggling with letter recognition, use multisensory approaches like tracing letters , interactive alphabet apps , or tactile games to reinforce learning. Offer plenty of repetition and positive reinforcement .

How to teach a 4 year old to recognize letters?

To teach a 4-year-old to recognize letters, start with fun alphabet songs, colorful flashcards, and simple games focusing on one letter at a time. Keep activities playful and brief to hold their attention.

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New Florida test scores show students progress, but half below grade level in reading

Almost half of the Treasure Coast's students finished the school year unable to read on grade level, according to the state's new assessment results.

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, or FAST, test scores, released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education, showed progress students made throughout the school year as they mastered skills in reading and math. English Language Arts, math and science test scores, including scores from end-of-course exams in algebra, geometry and biology, were released.

State and local educators said comparing scores from this year to previous scores was invalid because the test had changed.

FAST Testing Scorecard: Florida Schools

Florida's students moved from the Florida Standards Assessment, or FSA, to the FAST this year. The new assessment tool is a three-pronged testing approach that educators say helps teachers zero in on individual student strengths and weaknesses early, then use results to tailor instruction in reading and math throughout the year.

"The initial transition to a new assessment system is always a welcome opportunity to review data and develop new ways to provide tailored support and innovative educational experiences to our students," Martin County schools Superintendent Michael Maine said in a statement. "We have found great value in FAST and our ability to carefully monitor students' growth and make adjustments throughout the school year."

The tests are aligned with new math and English language arts standards the state adopted last year.

Treasure Coast district officials were pleased with how their students fared compared to their classmates around the state. Indian River County students, for example, improved in state rankings when compared to other districts, schools Superintendent David Moore said in a statement.

"It is abundantly clear from a review of the data that the (district) continues to be an exemplar for the state on providing the instructional quality and supports needed to realize continuous improvement for the benefit of students," Moore said. "Our school teams, district teams, and students are to be commended and celebrated for their unwavering expectations and work that contributed to the current outcomes.” 

St. Lucie County school district officials were unavailable for comment.

The data shows how students learn each grade's material throughout the year, beginning with low initial scores because they are unfamiliar with the material.

Statewide, about 33% of students in grades 3-10 began the year able to read on grade level. By the end of the year, half the students were on or above grade level.

In Indian River and Martin, 32% of the students in grades 3-10 began at grade level, with 52% of students in Indian River and 51% in Martin finishing the year at grade level. In St. Lucie County, 28% of students began the year at grade level, improving to 45% by year's end.

Florida third graders began the year with 22% reading at or above grade level, finishing with 50% reading at or above grade level.

Indian River third graders began the year with 20% on grade level, finishing with 60% at grade level. Martin third graders improved from 19% at grade level to 51%, while St. Lucie went from 17% at grade level to 42%.

More: Are Florida students testing more? First year of new state assessments is now underway

The Class of COVID: This year's seniors fell behind, missed traditions but are moving on

Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Contact her at 772-978-2235 or [email protected].