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3rd Grade Writing Activities

55 3rd grade writing activities, covering essays, prompts, research, plus 6 more topics. How teachers use these

3rd Grade Writing Activities

55 3rd grade writing activities, covering essays, prompts, research, plus 6 more topics. How teachers use these

Activity
Activity3rd GradeSnowman Contractions Activity

Play this snowman contractions activity as a memory game: 1st to 3rd grade students match two-word Mitten Cards to Snowman contraction cards and record each pair. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeProofreading Capitalization and Punctuation Activity

This proofreading capitalization and punctuation activity gives 2nd to 5th grade students 16 self-checking detective cards for fixing sentences. A practice page and answer key are included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeStory Starters

This story starters worksheet has 3rd graders sort twelve starters into character, setting, and plot, then write a short story of their own. An answer key is included, and it makes planning a story fun.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeWriting Tweets Activity

This writing tweets activity has kids read a bird feeder how-to text and answer fun prompt cards. Made for 3rd to 5th grade, with an answer key included for the practice page.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeComplete Sentences with Subject and Predicate Activity

This complete sentences with subject and predicate activity has 1st to 3rd grade students match picture subject cards to predicate cards, then practice on a worksheet. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeLet's Publish My Writing Activity

Let's Publish My Writing Activity helps 2nd to 4th Grade writers pick a prompt card, plan, and type one full page on the computer, then check their work with a publishing checklist.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeHelp From Other Author's Activity

Using this Help From Other Author's Activity helps, students collect story elements from literary or informational texts to write their own story.

Activity
Activity3rd Grade50 States Research Activity

This 50 states research activity guides children to take notes on a state in five categories and turn them into a brochure. Made for 2nd and 3rd grade, with a practice page and answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeDigital Dilemma Research Activity

Students hunt for U.S. government facts with this digital dilemma research activity for 3rd to 5th grade, checking each answer in a website and a book. An answer key is included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeWrite All About It Newspaper Writing Activity

This write all about it newspaper writing activity turns 3rd to 5th grade students into reporters with topic cards, a planner, and a front page template. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeSt. Patrick's Day Writing Activity

This St. Patrick's Day writing activity gives 1st to 3rd grade children prompt cards, shamrock step cards, a story map and themed writing paper so every child can plan and write. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeBack to School Adjective Writing Activity

This back to school adjective writing activity helps 1st to 3rd grade students plan a first-day story and add describing words. An answer key is included for the practice page.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeLet's Write RAFT Writing Activity

This let's write RAFT writing activity gives 2nd and 3rd grade writers 12 prompt cards, a planner and a publish page to write from a new point of view. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeAdding Details to Your Story Activity

This adding details to your story activity helps kindergarten to 3rd grade writers turn one sentence into a longer story with question cards and a planner. Answer key included, so practice is quick to check.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeThe Best Season Is Writing Activity

The best season is writing activity guides 1st-3rd Grade writers to plan and publish an opinion piece about their favorite season, with a model, practice and answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeEarth Day Writing Activity

UsingEarth Day Writing Activity, students brainstorm the sequence of events of a growing seed, then publish using them Earth Day themed writing.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeTell Us a Story Vacation Writing Activity

This tell us a story vacation writing activity gives 3rd to 5th grade students story postcards, a story map, and a publishing page for narrative writing. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeGathering Answers Recalling Information Activity

This gathering answers recalling information activity has 2nd and 3rd grade students find facts on sea turtle cards and record their sources. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeWrite About a Time When. . . Activity

This write about a time when. . . activity gives 2nd to 5th grade writers 16 star topic cards, a story planner and a writing page for true stories. Answer key included.

Activity
Activity3rd GradeTake Note Writing Activity

This take note writing activity has 3rd to 5th grade students sort print and digital sources, research a state with question cards, and take notes in their own words. Answer key included.

From our teachers' playbook

Paragraphs, stories and real opinions

What do 3rd graders learn in writing?

Third grade is when kids move from writing sentences to writing whole pieces. They learn to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, details and a closing, and they write three main kinds of writing: opinion pieces with reasons, informative pieces with facts, and narratives with a beginning, middle and end. They use linking words like because, also and then, and they add dialogue and feelings to their stories. They also learn to proofread for capitals, punctuation and complete sentences. The click is when a child rereads their own story and decides on their own to make it better!

Our favorite ways to teach 3rd grade writing

Third graders have so much to say. These moves help them get it on paper in order.

Write it in front of them

Think out loud as you write a short story on the board: "Hmm, how should my character feel here?" Let kids watch you cross things out and change your mind. Seeing a grown-up revise shows kids that good writing is rewritten writing.

Why it works: showing first, practicing together, then letting kids try alone is the "gradual release" model teachers have relied on for decades (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).

Fictional Narrative WorksheetTry it withFictional Narrative WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

Build the paragraph like a sandwich

Topic sentence is the top bread, three details are the fillings, and the closing sentence is the bottom bread. Kids color-code each part of their paragraph. A clear structure gives every writer a place to start.

Why it works: going from real objects to pictures to symbols is a core recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.

Organizing Writing Paragraphs WorksheetTry it withOrganizing Writing Paragraphs WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →

A quick write every day

Start each day with a five-minute journal prompt. No grades, just writing. Daily practice builds stamina and fluency, and by spring kids will write a whole page without groaning.

Why it works: short practice spread over several days beats one long session, according to a large review of learning research (Dunlosky and colleagues, 2013).

October Daily Journal PromptsTry it withOctober Daily Journal PromptsWorksheetsOpen it →

Questions parents and teachers ask about 3rd grade writing

What kind of writing do 3rd graders do?

Third graders write opinion pieces, informative pieces and narratives. They organize ideas into paragraphs, use linking words and add details, dialogue and a closing.

How long should a 3rd grader's writing be?

By the end of 3rd grade, many kids write several organized paragraphs on one topic. What matters most is a clear beginning, middle and end, not a certain number of words.

How can I help my 3rd grader with writing at home?

Have your child write real things: a letter to a grandparent, a review of a favorite movie or a list of reasons for a later bedtime. Writing for a real reader is the best motivation there is.

My 3rd grader hates writing. What can I do?

Start small and low-pressure, like a few sentences about something they love. Let them talk their ideas out first, then write. Praise ideas before spelling, and let them pick the topic as often as possible.