Language Arts - 3rd Grade

• Balancing Three Branches at Once
  This page contains 4 EDSITEment lessons in which students use primary source documents to investigate of how the three branches of the American government can check each other.
• Can You Haiku?
  Haiku show us the world in a water drop, providing a tiny lens through which to glimpse the miracle and mystery of life. Combining close observation with a moment of reflection, this simple yet highly sophisticated form of poetry can help sharpen students' response to language and enhance their powers of self-expression. In this lesson, students learn the rules and conventions of haiku, study examples by Japanese masters, and create haiku of their own.
• Dr. King's Dream
  In this lesson, students will learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will listen to a brief biography, view photographs of the March on Washington, hear a portion of King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, and discuss what King's words mean to them. Finally, they will create picture books about their own dreams of freedom for Americans today.
• Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World
  This lesson plan from EDSITEment introduces students to folktales, such as fables and trickster tales, from around the world. Students become familiar with different folklore traditions and genres, as well as the process of the oral transmission of culture and history. This lesson plan comprises a series of activities that include reading, writing, and literary analysis. Also included is an internet research activity, as well as a list of links to related resources.
• Fairy Tales, Then and Now
  In this lesson, students read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They'll then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture and will conclude by performing an updated version of the story. This lesson is found on the Xpeditions website from National Geographic.
• I Have No Money, Would You Take Wampum?
  In this lesson students use folk tales, history, and their own experiences to recognize the inter-relatedness of goods, services, and money. They will locate information about barter as a means of trade and use folk tales as a historical instrument.
• I'm Gonna Sit Right Down & Write Someone a Letter
  Use these fascinating letters as a starting point for discussion of and practice in the conventions and purposes of letter writing. After completing the lessons in this unit your students will be able to answer the following questions: What are the conventions of letter-writing? How is letter-writing used for various types of communication?
• Pennies Make Cents
  In this lesson, students will review the history of trade before money. They will then investigate the history of money. Students will locate information about the first coin authorized by the United States and will learn about the penny.
• The Story of Jack and the Bank Stalk
  In this lesson, the story of "'Jack and the Bean Stalk" is used as vehicle for the understanding of money. Fairy tales have always been used to give lessons about life. The story of "Jack and the Bean Stalk" is a good lesson about the importance of knowing about money and banks. The story of Jack asks the question, "What is money?"
• What Makes a Hero?
  In this unit from EDSITEment, students will explore heroes and the traits that make them heroic. Students begin by thinking about their own heroes and list the character traits their heroes possess. Students then explore kid heroes, adults' heroes, local heroes, and heroes from history, before completing one of several suggested culminating activities.
• Where Do Your Belongings Come From?
  This lesson asks students to figure out where their belongings came from and to consider the reasons why many items are imported from other countries. They will list the locations of origin for the items they use on a typical morning. They will conclude by researching the export industries of an East Asian country and writing paragraphs describing this country's exports to the United States.