7 Engaging Resources for Covering Third Grade Reading Standards

In third grade, most students are developing a relationship with reading that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

Specialists at the National Conference of State Legislatures have found that “students not reading proficiently at the end of third grade are four times more likely to not finish high school.” With this in mind, the curriculum team at eSpark Learning has compiled a list of the most effective, engaging online resources that teachers can use for tackling key reading literature standards with students who are reading at a third grade level. All of these resources can be found in eSpark’s differentiated reading curriculum.

1. Into The Book: Questioning [Game]

Publisher: Wisconsin Public Television Education

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.1 Understanding the Text

Overview: This interactive story gamifies reading comprehension by asking students to thoughtfully reflect on different passages of the text they encounter while exploring a mysterious castle.

2. Ask and Answer Questions Narrative Student Facing [Video]

Third Grade Understanding the Text Video

Publisher: Mark Raffler

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.1 Understanding the Text

Overview: This video highlights the key questions students should ask while reading and scaffolds the reflection process for young readers.

3. Aesop in the Modern World [Video]

Third Grade Determining Message, Lesson, and Moral

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.2: Determining Message, Lesson, and Moral

Overview: This fun animated video animation uses the fable of The Monkey and The Dolphin to show students how to identify the theme of a story.

4. The Lion and the Mouse [eBook]

Third Grade Determining Message, Lesson, and Moral eBook

Publisher: StoryJumper

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.2 Determining Message, Lesson, and Moral

Overview: This engaging retelling of a popular fable keeps students engaged with a variety of illustration styles.

5. Main Idea [Game]

Publisher: RoomRecess.com

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.3 Describe Characters in a Story

Overview: This game asks students to identify the main idea of a story and uses engaging graphics to keep students on task.

6. Personification [Video]

Third Grade Literal vs. Non-Literal Language

Publisher: The Bazillions

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.4 Literal vs. Non-Literal Language

Overview: This video uses a catchy song and cute animation to explain the concept of personification.

7. Lefty and Ron [iOS App]

Third Grade Literal vs. Non-Literal Language App

Publisher: Ian Anderson

Standard Alignment: 3.RL.4 Literal vs. Non-Literal Language

Overview: This ebook uses animation and audio support to engage third grade readers while providing multiple examples of wordplay and double meaning.