3rd grade writing samples

by: Jessica Kelmon | Updated: November 27, 2022

Print article

3rd-grade-writing

In 3rd grade writing, there’s an emphasis on students’ nonfiction writing being both well-researched and well-organized. Your child’s teacher may introduce various methods to help kids organize their thoughts — from outlining to using Post-it notes and everything in between. These 3rd grade writing samples come from a class where the teacher has the kids use colored paper: pink paper for introductions, yellow paper for supporting reasons (backed by evidence ), and green paper for conclusions. There are a couple of key differences you may notice this year in terms of fundamental 3rd grade skills . For example, while second graders simply write straightforward introductory statements in their reports, third grade writing is supposed to have, “grabby,” or intriguing introductions to pique the reader’s interest. Read more about your third grader’s writing under the Common Core .

Third grade writing sample #1

Saving Water by Bella

In her report, Bella does a great job of writing a “grabby” introduction and making sure that her conclusion relates to her introduction.

Third grade writing sample #2

Saving Water by Cade

Notice how Cade includes details in his introduction. He also includes many supporting reasons, also called evidence from the text, in his report. Using evidence is an essential skill that continues to be a focus every year.

Third grade writing sample #3

Saving Water by Laura

Third graders are taught to emphasize the content and organization of their writing. Making edits to spelling and grammar are considered a final step — and aren’t quite as important as getting their ideas on paper. As you read Laura’s report, you may notice the spelling corrections (like the dark “c” in “faucet”) that she makes at the end, after concentrating on her introduction, supporting reasons, and conclusion.

See more examples of real kids’ writing in different grades: Kindergarten , first grade , second grade , fourth grade , fifth grade .

Homes Nearby

Homes for rent and sale near schools

Tips-on-writing-college-essay

6 ways to improve a college essay

Writing-tips-for-every-grade

Quick writing tips for every age

Writing on the wall

Writing on the wall

Why parents must teach writing

GreatSchools Logo

Yes! Sign me up for updates relevant to my child's grade.

Please enter a valid email address

Thank you for signing up!

Server Issue: Please try again later. Sorry for the inconvenience

Engaging Writing Prompts for 3rd Graders

3rd grade essay samples

Students in 3rd grade should be writing regularly in a variety of styles and for a variety of audiences. Useful writing projects for 3rd graders include  opinion , informative, and narrative essays, as well as short research projects.

For many students, the most difficult part of writing is facing the blank page. The following grade-level appropriate writing prompts provide plenty of inspiration to help your students get started on a number of different writing assignments.

Narrative Essay Writing Prompts

Narrative essays tell a story based on real or imagined events. Students should use descriptive writing and dialogue to tell their tale.

  • Scary Stuff. Think of something that scares you and explain what makes it so frightening.
  • Grouchy Pants. Describe a day when you were grouchy. What made you so grumpy and how did you get in a better mood?
  • School Rules. If you could make a new school rule, what would it be? How would your rule change an average day at school?
  • Snappy Travel. Imagine you could snap your fingers and be anywhere else in the world. Write about where you’d go.
  • Family Tales. What is the most interesting story that a family member has ever told you about their life?
  • Food Forever. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
  • Book Bound. If you could be the main character from your favorite book, who would you be? Write about an adventure you might have.
  • Seeing Double. Imagine that you have an identical twin who is a different class than you. What pranks would you play on your teachers and classmates?
  • Nessy's Life. Have you heard of the Loch Ness Monster ? Imagine you’re the monster. Describe your life under the sea.
  • Lost. Have you ever been lost? Write about your experience.
  • Perfect Party. Describe what the ultimate birthday party would look like if you could do anything you wanted.
  • Kindness Counts. You’re given $100 to do random acts of kindness for others. What do you do?
  • Memory Eraser . Describe something that happened to you that you wish you could forget. Explain why.

Opinion Essay Writing Prompts

When writing an opinion essay , students should clearly state their opinion, then back it up with sound reasons and facts. Opinion essays should close the essay with a concluding paragraph and a summary of the argument. 

  • Be a Friend. What does it mean to be a good friend?
  • Growing Up or Down. Would you rather be older than you are right now or younger? Why?
  • Hello? Some kids in 3rd grade have cell phones. Do you? Do you think that’s good or bad?
  • Best Pets. Which animal makes the best pet? Give at least three reasons for your opinion.
  • Tattletale. If you saw one of your friends doing something that you knew was wrong, should you tell on them? Why or why not?
  • School Favorites . What do you think is the best subject in school? What makes it the best?
  • Off Limits . Is there a TV show that you’re not allowed to watch or a video game that you’re not allowed to play? Explain why your parents should allow it.
  • Summer School. Should your school be in session year ‘round with more breaks throughout the year or continue to give students the summer off? Why?
  • Junk Food Fans. Should candy and soda machines be available to students on school property? Why or why not?
  • School Supplies. What is the most important tool in your classroom? What makes it so useful?
  • School Pride . What is the best thing about being a student at your school?
  • What’s in a Name? If you could change your name, what would you choose and why?

Informative Essay Writing Prompts

Informative essays introduce a topic, explain a process, or describe an idea, then provide facts, definitions, and details. Students should organize related information into paragraphs in order to write the most logical essay possible. Remember that they should also include introductory and concluding paragraphs.

  • Real Superheroes. Superheroes in movies and comics can do some pretty amazing things, but think of someone you consider to be a real-life hero. What do (or did) they do that makes them a hero? 
  • Liar, Liar. Someone told your best friend a lie about you and your friend believed them. Explain how you’d handle the situation.
  • Student Teacher. Think of something that you found difficult to do at first (such as multiplication or tying your shoes), but that you now understand. Explain the process so that someone else could learn to do it.
  • Holidays . What is your favorite holiday? Explain how you celebrate it.
  • Pet Sitter. Your family is going on vacation and a pet-sitter is coming to care for your pets. Write a note explaining how to care for them.
  • PB&J. Write out the step-by-step process for making the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
  • Chores. What is a household chore for which you are responsible? Explain how to do it.
  • Emergency Drills. Think of one emergency drill that your school practices. Write a paper describing exactly how to do it as if you were explaining it to a brand-new student.
  • Allergies. Do you have a serious allergy to something like peanuts or milk? Write an essay explaining why it’s so important for you not to come into contact with the allergen.
  • Color Wheel. What is your favorite color? Choose an animal or object that is that color and describe it.
  • State Fun Facts . Describe some interesting facts about your state to someone who has never visited.
  • Family Traditions. Describe a unique family tradition that your family has.
  • Game On.  What's your favorite game? Explain the rules to someone who has never played it before.

Research Writing Prompts

Students in 3rd grade can conduct simple research projects that build on their knowledge about a topic. They should use digital and print media to explore the topic , take simple notes, and create a basic outline before beginning the writing process.

  • State History. What is the history of your state? Research the history and write an essay about one key event in your state's past.
  • Marsupials. Marsupials are animals who carry their babies in pouches. With the exception of the opossum, all marsupials live in Australia. Choose one of them to learn more about.
  • Insects. They may be small, but insects play an important role in our environment. Choose an insect to research and write an essay about its characteristics.
  • Jaws! Are Great White sharks really man-eaters? Research this question and write an essay about your answer. 
  • Bat Signal. How do bats use echolocation?
  • Explorers. Choose a famous (or not-so-famous) explorer to research.
  • Comic Book Heroes. When was the first comic book published and what was it about?
  • Extreme Weather. Choose an extreme weather event such as a tornado, hurricane, or tsunami, and explain its cause.
  • International Space Station. Learn more about the International Space Station: how it's used, who visits it, and why it's important. Write an essay about your findings.
  • Ben Franklin, Inventor . Many people know Benjamin Franklin as a Founding Father and statesman, but he was also an inventor. Learn about some of the things he invented.
  • Legends.  Research a popular legend such as the Lost City of Atlantis, Big Foot, or Paul Bunyan . Write an essay describing the evidence for or against the legend.
  • Presidential History. Research the childhood of one American president and write an essay about what you learn.
  • 4th Grade Writing Prompts
  • Second Grade Writing Prompts
  • Writing Prompts for 5th Grade
  • First Grade Writing Prompts
  • Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
  • 24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
  • 49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students
  • Fun March Writing Prompts for Journaling
  • November Writing and Journal Prompts
  • January Writing Prompts
  • February Writing Prompts
  • October Writing Prompts
  • May Writing Prompts
  • Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
  • September Writing Prompts
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompts

Genie Academy

  • East Brunswick
  • Hillsborough
  • South Brunswick
  • South Plainfield
  • (732) 659-4364
  • PARENT PORTAL

How to Write A 3rd Grade Level Essay

In third grade, your child will start to learn higher level writing skills. This may be the first time they are writing open ended prompts. There are three different types of essays they will learn to write.

Informative Essay

An informative essay prompt will look something like this: Your family is going on vacation and a pet-sitter is coming to care for your pets. Write a note explaining how to care for them. To answer this, your child should describe the pet, it’s schedule for things like feeding and exercise, what the pet likes and doesn’t (for example, Fluffy likes to be scratched behind the ears, but do not grab her tail), and what to do for that pet if there is an emergency (call a neighbor, go to the vet, or something like that). Even if the information isn’t perfectly accurate (for example, your child may not know that the family dog takes regular medication), all the information should make sense and follow a logical flow.

Opinion Essay

An opinion essay prompt will look something like this: What does it mean to be a good friend? To answer this prompt, they will have to provide a lot of detail and thought. This can be challenging because opinion essays tend to be more abstract, but they still need to logically back up their ideas. For example, they may write that a good friend tells funny jokes, but they need to give detail on what would be funny between them or what wouldn’t be funny at all. Additionally, the essay needs to be properly organized. Opinion essays should have full paragraphs, and your child should close the essay with a concluding paragraph with a summary of the argument. This argument doesn’t have to be particularly sophisticated, of course, but it should be clear and logically follow the ideas they have written about. Following the previous example, they may write that it would be funny for their friend to walk around pretending to be a penguin because that’s a funny way for a person to move, but that it wouldn’t be funny to say that penguins look stupid because that’s mean.

Narrative Essay

A narrative essay prompt will look something like this: Have you ever been lost? Write about your experience. To answer this prompt, your child should use descriptive writing and dialogue to tell their tale. Using the “five senses” is an important factor in writing a successful narrative. For example, they may have gotten lost in a clothing store and are writing about that experience. They would describe the colors of the clothes, the smell of the store, or the loud sounds of all the people there. The events of the story, whether real or imagined, should follow logical time order, as well.

To help your child become a better writer, enroll in Reading Genie today!

Genie Academy provides after-school enrichment programs for students covering math, reading, writing, and coding. With tutoring centers throughout New Jersey , our programs are tailored for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. Learn more about our writing tutor in East Brunswick , writing tutor in Hillsborough , writing tutor in Marlboro , writing tutor in South Brunswick , writing tutor in Plainsboro , and writing tutor in South Plainfield . 

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/3rd-grade-writing-prompts-4172725

Topics: Essay , Writing Skills , Third Grade , paragraph writing , Writing Prompt

Get A Free Assessment

Sign up or call 732-651-2700 to schedule your free class.

Math Programs & Pricing

Latest Article

  • Key Facts and Statistics About Math, Math Games, and Apps
  • Best Math Tutoring Programs For Kids in New Jersey
  • Studies on Poor Math skills lead to poor financial outcomes
  • Return on Investment of Genie Academy
  • What to Do If Your Child Isn't Focused During Online Learning

Reading Programs & Pricing

Get Free Updates

Sign up to receive our newsletter

What To Do Next…

1 Get your free 60-minute Child Assessment and learn:

  • If your child is learning at the appropriate age level .
  • Your child’s strengths and where they need additional help .
  • If your child has an affinity for a particular subject, they may excel in .
  • Our professional recommendations and learning strategy for your child.
  • And much more…

2 Have more questions? Call us at 732-651-2700 to discuss your Child's specific needs.

SIGN UP FOR A FREE CLASS

Related posts.

Why American Literacy Standards are Dropping...

July 28, 2022

Is my child missing bricks?

July 21, 2022

How much knowledge has your child lost because of the pandemic?

July 20, 2022

The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

How to Write an Expository Essay for Grade Three

Christi O'Donnell

How to Make an Outline for a Fourth Grade Research Paper

Third grade is often the year when students first begin to experiment with structured writing, such as the expository essay. Writing an expository essay in third grade is a lot like making a sandwich. Just as a good sandwich has three parts -- the top bun, fillings and bottom bun -- a good expository essay also has three parts: the introduction, details and conclusion.

Choose a Topic

Many children choose to write expository essays about animals.

You write an expository essay to tell or teach the reader about a topic. Start by choosing a topic that you think is interesting and that you already know a lot about. You might choose to write about an animal you like, a place you have visited or a person whom you have read about. If you have too many ideas, make a list and then close your eyes and pick.

Do Some Research

Use good research to bolster your topic.

Research is when you look for more information on a topic. Start your research by choosing and reading a book about your topic. Pick a book that is nonfiction, as it will have factual information that you can use in your essay. As you read, take notes. Use a notebook to copy down the facts that you think are most important and to write down questions that you have. You will refer to these notes as you write your essay.

Write the Introduction

The beginning of your expository essay is your introduction -- where you capture the reader's attention and tell her what the main idea of the essay is going to be. Make the introduction as interesting as possible so that the reader wants to keep reading. A good way to start an introduction is with a question or with an amazing fact. For example: "Did you know that great white sharks can eat up to 11 tons of food a year? Sharks are amazing and important fish."

Add Some Details

Once you have hooked the reader's attention, tell him more about your topic. Details are individual facts that provide more information about a topic. The best details give sensory information. That means that they give more information that helps your reader imagine how things feel, smell, sound, taste or look. Try to include at least three details in your expository essay. For example: "Sharks might look smooth when they are in the water, but their skin is actually very rough. Sharks are often called silent hunters, because the only sounds they make are crunching sounds -- after they've caught their prey."

Write a Conclusion

The final part of your expository essay is the conclusion where you return to the main idea of your essay and restate it in different words. The conclusion helps tie the whole essay together and reminds the reader of the most important points. Conclusions often start with phrases like "in conclusion," "as you can see," "finally" or "in the end."

Proofread Your Work

Turn in work that you're proud to put your name on.

If you wrote your essay on paper, reread it and look for spelling, punctuation and capital letter mistakes. If you find any, fix them. If you wrote your essay on the computer, print out a copy and read it on paper, looking for the same kinds of mistakes. Before you hand in your work, check that your name is on the paper. You want to get credit for the hard work you did.

Related Articles

How to Write an Anecdotal Essay

How to Write an Anecdotal Essay

How to Stay on Topic When Writing an Essay

How to Stay on Topic When Writing an Essay

How to Write a Dissertation Summary

How to Write a Dissertation Summary

How Do Reflective Essays Differ From Analytical Essays?

How Do Reflective Essays Differ From Analytical Essays?

How to Write a Scholarship Letter

How to Write a Scholarship Letter

How to Pair a Wrap Dress With Boots

How to Pair a Wrap Dress With Boots

What Is a Descriptive Paragraph?

What Is a Descriptive Paragraph?

How to Add Figurative Language to an Essay

How to Add Figurative Language to an Essay

A lifetime resident of New York, Christi O'Donnell has been writing about education since 2003. O'Donnell is a dual-certified educator with experience writing curriculum and teaching grades preK through 12. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters Degree in education from Mercy College.

  • Grades 6-12
  • School Leaders

Free printable Mother's Day questionnaire 💐!

50 Creative 3rd Grade Writing Prompts (Free Printable!)

Taking the leap from the primary level to the intermediate grades.

Four printed note boards for third grade writing prompts.

Third grade is a huge transitional year in elementary school. Third grade writers have learned foundational concepts and skills and have had time to practice. Now they are developing more complex skills as they dig deeper, learn to make connections, and analyze the topics they write about. Here are 50 third grade writing prompts to help your students master and refine their writing skills.

If you’d like even more upper elementary writing prompts, we publish new ones twice a week on our kid-friendly site: the Daily Classroom Hub . Make sure to bookmark the link!

(Want this entire set in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here, so you’ll always have the prompts available!)

1. Tell about a special event in your life.

3rd grade essay samples

2. What are you best at?

3rd grade essay samples

3. What do you want to learn more about?

3rd grade essay samples

4. I could never live without______.

3rd grade essay samples

5. If you could go anyplace in the world, where would you go and why?

3rd grade essay samples

6. Interview one of your parents or grandparents and ask them to tell you a story from their childhood. Share their story here.

3rd grade essay samples

7. Describe one of your favorite book characters. Tell three things about their personality.

3rd grade essay samples

8. Do you think third graders should have to do chores at home? Why or why not?

3rd grade essay samples

9. What is something you would change about school if you could?

3rd grade essay samples

10. Tell about a time you helped somebody.

3rd grade essay samples

11. Tell about a time somebody helped you.

3rd grade essay samples

12. Tell about a memorable “first” in your life. For example, the first time you ate a particular kind of food, the first time you met your teacher, etc.

3rd grade essay samples

13. Describe step by step how to make a pizza.

3rd grade essay samples

14. What does it mean to be a hero?

3rd grade essay samples

15. I am afraid of _______ because_______.

3rd grade essay samples

16. What is the difference between being polite and rude? Give three examples.

3rd grade essay samples

17. What is the most important rule in the classroom?

3rd grade essay samples

18. What are the three most important qualities you look for in a friend?

3rd grade essay samples

19. Do you think kids should be assigned homework? Why or why not?

3rd grade essay samples

20. Nature gives us many beautiful things—plants, animals, water, weather, stars and planets, etc. What is one of your favorite things in nature and why?

3rd grade essay samples

21. If I were a spider, I’d _______.

3rd grade essay samples

22. Three things that make me happy are ______.

3rd grade essay samples

23. What is your favorite holiday and why?

3rd grade essay samples

24. Tell about one of your family’s unique traditions.

3rd grade essay samples

25. If you could have a pet, what would you choose? How would you take care of it?

3rd grade essay samples

26. Write about a dream you recently had.

3rd grade essay samples

27. Tell about a person that inspires you and why.

3rd grade essay samples

28. Name five things you are thankful for and why you are thankful for them.

3rd grade essay samples

29. What are ways you can be a good citizen?

3rd grade essay samples

30. When you and a friend disagree, how do you work it out?

3rd grade essay samples

31. What do you think the world will be like in one hundred years?

3rd grade essay samples

32. What is your favorite type of weather? Why?

3rd grade essay samples

33. What superpower do you wish you had? Why?

3rd grade essay samples

34. What famous person would you like to meet? Why?

3rd grade essay samples

35. In your opinion, which animal makes the best pet? Give three reasons for your answer.

3rd grade essay samples

36. If someone gave you $100, how would you spend it?

3rd grade essay samples

37. Should third graders have cell phones? Why or why not?

3rd grade essay samples

38. If you could be an Olympic athlete, what sport would you participate in?

3rd grade essay samples

39. Write about your “getting ready for school” routine.

3rd grade essay samples

40. Write about your “getting ready for bed” routine.

3rd grade essay samples

41. If you could travel through time like Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, where would you go?

3rd grade essay samples

42. In your opinion, what does a perfect weekend look like?

3rd grade essay samples

43. Write about the last time you felt really angry. What happened and how did it all work out?

3rd grade essay samples

44. Pretend there was a special zoo where animals could talk. Which animal would you talk to and what are three questions you would ask?

3rd grade essay samples

45. What is your favorite thing with wheels? Why?

3rd grade essay samples

46. Tell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from the point of view of Baby Bear.

3rd grade essay samples

47. What do you think would grow if you planted a magic bean?

3rd grade essay samples

48. Which would you rather be able to do—fly or read people’s minds? Why?

3rd grade essay samples

49. Tell about an adult in your life that you admire.

3rd grade essay samples

50. If you were traveling for a week and could only bring a backpack, what would you pack?

3rd grade essay samples

Get My Third Grade Writing Prompts

Love these third grade writing prompts? Make sure to check out our third grade jokes to start the day !

50 Creative Third Grade Writing Prompts (Free Printable!)

You Might Also Like

3rd grade essay samples

101 Exciting 4th Grade Writing Prompts for 2023 (Free Printable!)

Use them for journal writing, essay topics, and more! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Student Writing Samples

Annotated student writing samples illustrating the integration of content understanding and writing in the three types of writing expected by college- and career-ready standards, including the CCSS. The resources presented are from  In Common: Effective Writing for All Students , authored by the Vermont Writing Collaborative with Student Achievement Partners and CCSSO. There are two types of resources available:

  • On-Demand Writing   provides a progression of writing  across grades  (K–5 and 6–12); students have written independently to the same text-based prompt across grades.
  • Range of Writing   provides multiple examples of student writing  within a grade  across a wide variety of content areas, curriculum units, conditions for writing, and purposes.

Learn more about In Common.

Resources specifically designed to support understanding and development of CCR-aligned writing

Filter by category

  • Argument/Opinion Writing
  • Informative/Explanatory Writing
  • Narrative Writing

To find out how mini-assessment questions align to particular standards, use the Literacy Mini-Assessment Sorter Microsoft Excel file Learn More

Results (39)

  • Most Downloaded Date Added Title (A-Z)

Narrative: Range of Writing

These pieces represent a wide variety of content areas, curriculum units, conditions for writing, and purposes.  They reflect Comm…

Argument/Opinion: Range of Writing

Informative/explanatory: range of writing.

Grades 11–12

Grades 9–10

Informative/Explanatory Writing: On-Demand ©

The pieces in this On-Demand section represent one of the three types of writing named in the Common Core State Standards for Writing: …

Grades K–5

Informative/Explanatory Writing: On-Demand

Grades 6–12

Narrative Writing: On-Demand

Argument/opinion writing: on-demand, narrative writing: on-demand ©.

Terrific Teaching Tactics

Make Learning Fun

Third Grade Writing – Personal Narratives

Are you struggling to teach writing to your 3rd graders? Perhaps you just don’t know where to start. You’re constantly googling, ‘how do you teach writing to 3rd graders?’ or ‘how can I help my 3rd graders with writing?’ You’re tearing your hair out with frustration.

3rd grade personal narratives writing unit - third grade writing curriculum

Maybe it’s because your school doesn’t provide you with a writing curriculum. So, you’re spending your precious evenings and weekends looking on Pinterest for lesson ideas. Or worse, a curriculum is provided…but it’s just downright terrible. You can’t make sense of it and your students hate it.

Perhaps your students just hate writing in general and roll their eyes at the thought of it.

Well, here’s the thing. Teaching writing ‘aint easy. In fact, it can be straight up tricky, I get it!

But don’t worry friend, I’ve got you covered.

THIRD GRADE WRITING - PERSONAL NARRATIVES

Introducing Terrific Writing

Terrific Writing is a comprehensive writing curriculum for Third Grade. This curriculum is standards based (to the common core) and genre based. But best of all, it’s actually easy to teach and engaging for students!

In this curriculum, your students will develop a love of writing. The graphic organizers, interactive notebooks, and final craft will engage students much more than a blank piece of paper. The final writing piece asks students to write about a special day that they have chosen! After all, students love to write about things that they are interested in.

Writing doesn’t have to be dull and students definitely shouldn’t hate writing!

In Unit 1 ‘Personal Narratives’, students learn how to write engaging personal narratives about their lives.

Are you short on time?

This  5 week  unit has EVERYTHING you need, because let’s be honest, teachers are time poor.

So, let’s get your evenings and weekends back, my friend! Take a break from lesson planning and searching for engaging materials. It’s all right here.

Are you ready? I’m going to share some of the awesome things about it!

What’s included in this third grade writing – personal narratives unit?

First up, there are a bunch of teacher docs. Unit contents, common core standards, and teacher directions? Check.

To begin, there’s some suggested mentor texts (with links to Amazon and YouTube). Also, a scope is included which shows the 25 lessons that feature in this unit and the third grade common core standards that are relevant.

mentor text unit scope for third grade writing unit

Also, there is a unit at-a-glance calendar, as well as a table which tells you what materials you will need for each lesson. Basically, I’ve tried to make this unit super easy to implement. It has everything you need!

unit at a glance calendar, lesson materials for 3rd grade writing unit

Next, there’s some suggested lesson times. To clarify, it doesn’t matter how long your writing block is, this unit can be adapted to suit it!

A lot of teachers struggle with finding the time to teach writing. If this is you, you’re not alone!

lesson plans for 3rd grade writing curriculum

Then, there’s the 25 scripted (and step-by-step) lesson plans. The lessons follow a simple format of mini lesson, think and share, and independent writing time. There’s a lesson focus to guide you and all of the required materials are listed with numbers. For example, you’ll know exactly which posters and printables you need.

lesson plans for third grade writing curriculum

Subsequently, there’s a video that comes with this unit. This will help you organize and implement everything.

Wondering how to assess your student’s writing? Don’t sweat it!

There’s an assessment document for this unit too. It includes a rubric to help you grade your student’s writing.

However, I’m not just throwing you to the sharks here! Rubrics can sometimes be generic or difficult to decipher. That’s why I’ve made a comprehensive document with teacher directions, as well as elaborations and examples. Moreover, there’s a video to help you understand the rubric.

assessment rubric for 3rd grade writing curriculum

Personal narrative mentor texts

I do give a list of suggested mentor texts that you can source, but in addition, I provide two original mentor texts for this unit! These come in PDF and PowerPoint versions (as well as color and black and white). You can print them in any size or just display them on an interactive whiteboard.

The great thing about these original mentor texts is that they include all of the features of a personal narrative that are taught in the unit. For example, students will see examples of dialogue, paragraphing, and hooks.

mentor texts for 3rd grade writing curriculum

Personal Narrative Posters

This unit comes with 25 posters that you can reference to! Each lesson corresponds to them. Most importantly, they are great for giving writing ideas and reinforcing the narrative structure.

personal narrative writing posters anchor charts

You can print them in color and laminate them. They are great for displaying in the classroom. However, you can also display these posters digitally (if you have limited printing options).

personal narrative writing curriculum

Already interested in this third grade writing personal narratives unit? Grab it here !

Personal narrative printables

There are student workbook covers that you can print. There are three options, ‘My Writing Folder’, ‘My Writing Notebook’, and ‘My Writing Journal’. Your students can glue these covers onto their folders or books. The covers come in color and black and white (there are also boy and girl versions).

3rd grade writing folder

Let’s now take a look at the writing prompts, worksheets, interactive notebooks and graphic organizers!

Small Moments

In the first few lessons, students complete a pre-assessment and then an interactive notebook where they brainstorm narrative ideas based off things they love.

Students then learn about zooming in on a small moment. They are introduced to the concept of ‘big idea, smaller topic, and small moment’.

Next, they think about happy and sad moments in their lives.

3rd grade essay samples

The Elements of a narrative

They then learn about the importance of characters, setting, problems, and solutions in narrative writing.

3rd grade essay samples

The Structure of a narrative

Later, students learn about how narratives have a beginning, middle and end. After that, they start planning their final narrative.

interactive notebook beginning middle end narrative

Writing a strong lead

Students learn about the importance of writing a hook and a strong introduction. This aligns well with the common core standard –

W.3.3.A – Establish a situation and introduce characters.

introduction and writing a hook narrative worksheets

Features of a good narrative

There are a few lessons about concepts such as dialogue and paragraphing. Likewise, students learn about making their writing more descriptive by stretching their sentences and doing ‘show, don’t tell’.

This aligns well with the common core standard –

W.3.3.B – Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.

3rd grade essay samples

The conclusion to a narrative

Later, there’s a lesson about adding transition words. Students also learn about how to write a strong ending to their narrative. These lessons align well with the following common core standards –

W.3.3.C – Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.

W.3.3.D – Provide a sense of closure.

conclusion and transition words worksheets

narrative Checklists

After students have written their first draft, they use two checklists to proofread their work. One checklist grades narrative structure and the other is a more generic checklist for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

The students do a self check, peer check, and adult check.

3rd grade essay samples

narrative Writing craft

Finally, students create a cute flipbook craft for their final writing piece. They write about their special day. For instance, a birthday, holiday, celebration, or fun day out.

It’s a flipbook, so they can add as many pages underneath as they need! This craft is great for a bulletin baord display.

writing craft flipbook craftivity for bulletin board

Personal narrative Task Cards

I think it’s super imortant to have purposeful early finisher tasks and extension activities during writing lessons. Above all, we should be challenging our advanced writers. That’s why this unit also includes task cards for writing personal narratives.

3rd grade essay samples

Here’s an overview, with some more information about the unit –

What’s included in this unit?

  • 25 step-by-step scripted lesson plans
  • 20 graphic organizers / worksheets
  • 2 interactive notebooks and 1 writing craft
  • 2 original mentor texts (PowerPoint versions and PDF in color and b&w)
  • 24 tasks cards extension activities (2 versions – b&w, color)
  • 1 assessment rubric

Here’s everything else that’s included in this unit –

  • Video overview to help organize and implement the unit
  • List of common core standards that align with this unit
  • Teacher directions for the lesson plans
  • Suggestions for differentiation and lesson times
  • List of recommended mentor texts (with links)
  • Unit scope and at-a-glance calendar
  • Lesson materials list
  • Student book/folder cover (3 versions – journal, notebook, or folder)
  • 1 writing prompt pre-assessment
  • 4 lined pages (for first drafts and crafts)
  • 2 checklists
  • 1 set of compliment notes (2 versions – b&w, color)
  • 1 certificate (2 versions – b&w, color)
  • Teacher directions, examples, and elaborations for the rubric
  • Video with tips for using the rubric

third grade personal narratives writing curriculum

Here’s a breakdown of the lessons –

In the first 11 lessons, students develop an understanding of what a personal narrative is. They also learn about small moments and choosing a writing topic. Then, they start learning about the structure of a narrative.

  • Lesson 1 – What is a personal narrative?
  • What can I write about?
  • What is a small moment?
  • My small moment
  • Positive memorable moments
  • Negative memorable moments
  • What is the structure of a narrative?
  • Personal narratives need characters
  • Personal narratives need a setting
  • Narratives have problems
  • Narratives have solutions

For the next part of the unit, students begin planning and writing their final writing piece.

  • What will my narrative be about?
  • Let’s plan a narrative
  • Start with a hook
  • Writing an introduction
  • Show, don’t tell
  • Stretching sentences
  • Using dialogue
  • Powerful paragraphs
  • Transition words
  • Writing an ending
  • Putting it all together
  • Revise and edit
  • Final draft and illustrations
  • Publishing party

Click here to see a video that shows everything in the unit.

Want to try a free sample?

Yep, you can try one of the lessons, graphic organizers, and posters for free! Click here to grab the free sample.

free personal narratives writing lesson plan, graphic organizer, and poster

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this third grade writing personal narratives unit!

Click here to grab the full unit!

3rd grade essay samples

Sharing is caring!

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Teacher Instagram

3rd grade essay samples

TPT Seller Instagram

Save 10% on your first purchase! Use the coupon code TERRIFIC10 at checkout. Dismiss

We noticed you're visiting from Australia. We've updated our prices to Australian dollar for your shopping convenience. Use United States (US) dollar instead. Dismiss

Home

Reading & Math for K-5

  • Kindergarten
  • Learning numbers
  • Comparing numbers
  • Place Value
  • Roman numerals
  • Subtraction
  • Multiplication
  • Order of operations
  • Drills & practice
  • Measurement
  • Factoring & prime factors
  • Proportions
  • Shape & geometry
  • Data & graphing
  • Word problems
  • Children's stories
  • Leveled Stories
  • Context clues
  • Cause & effect
  • Compare & contrast
  • Fact vs. fiction
  • Fact vs. opinion
  • Main idea & details
  • Story elements
  • Conclusions & inferences
  • Sounds & phonics
  • Words & vocabulary
  • Reading comprehension
  • Early writing
  • Numbers & counting
  • Simple math
  • Social skills
  • Other activities
  • Dolch sight words
  • Fry sight words
  • Multiple meaning words
  • Prefixes & suffixes
  • Vocabulary cards
  • Other parts of speech
  • Punctuation
  • Capitalization
  • Narrative writing
  • Opinion writing
  • Informative writing
  • Cursive alphabet
  • Cursive letters
  • Cursive letter joins
  • Cursive words
  • Cursive sentences
  • Cursive passages
  • Grammar & Writing

Breadcrumbs

Grammar and Writing Workbook for Grade 3

Download & Print Only $6.49

Opinion writing for grade 3

Opinions, reasons and examples.

These worksheets and writing prompts help students express their opinions in writing in a structured manner.

Supporting details : adding details to support the main idea

Writing opinion paragraphs : stating and supporting your opinion

Opinion paragraphs with examples : using examples to support your reasons

Opinion writing prompts : write opinion pieces from prompts

3rd grade essay samples

Grade 3 opinion writing worksheet

What is K5?

K5 Learning offers free worksheets , flashcards  and inexpensive  workbooks  for kids in kindergarten to grade 5. Become a member  to access additional content and skip ads.

3rd grade essay samples

Our members helped us give away millions of worksheets last year.

We provide free educational materials to parents and teachers in over 100 countries. If you can, please consider purchasing a membership ($24/year) to support our efforts.

Members skip ads and access exclusive features.

Learn about member benefits

This content is available to members only.

Join K5 to save time, skip ads and access more content. Learn More

  • Forgot Password?

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

Social Media

Facebook twitter.

Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond “Third World” Labels

This essay about the evolving perception of Colombia challenges the outdated notion of labeling it as a “Third World” country. It outlines the nation’s significant progress in recent decades, highlighting economic growth, poverty reduction, and improvements in governance. While acknowledging persistent challenges such as economic disparities, political instability, and environmental sustainability, the essay emphasizes Colombia’s resilience and potential for sustainable development beyond simplistic categorizations.

How it works

The term “Third World” has historical roots dating back to the Cold War, describing nations that were not aligned with either the NATO bloc or the Soviet Union. Over time, the term became synonymous with poverty and underdevelopment. Applying this label to Colombia, however, does not adequately capture the complexities of its modern socio-economic reality. Colombia, a diverse country with an array of challenges and opportunities, has shown significant progress in recent decades that defies such simplistic categorization.

In the 20th century, Colombia faced substantial internal challenges, including protracted civil conflict, drug cartel violence, and severe economic disparities.

This turbulence hindered the country’s growth and reinforced its image as a troubled nation. However, in the past 20 years, Colombia has undergone transformative changes, particularly since the turn of the millennium. The government’s efforts to improve security, attract foreign investment, and diversify its economy have paved the way for notable economic and social development.

Economically, Colombia is recognized as an emerging market and is part of the CIVETS group of countries (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa), considered to have high growth potential. The country boasts a robust oil industry, strong mining sector, and significant agricultural exports, making it a leading exporter of coffee, flowers, and bananas. Furthermore, Colombia has actively pursued trade agreements, joining the Pacific Alliance and forging free trade agreements with the United States and European Union.

In addition to improving its trade relationships, Colombia has strengthened its macroeconomic policies. It has maintained a stable inflation rate and implemented fiscal discipline, which has made it an attractive destination for foreign direct investment. As a result, Colombia’s middle class has grown, and poverty rates have declined. According to the World Bank, Colombia reduced its poverty rate from 49.7% in 2002 to 27% in 2018.

However, challenges persist. Economic disparities still run deep, with significant inequality between urban and rural areas. Remote regions, particularly those affected by the civil conflict with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), remain impoverished and lack access to essential services like healthcare and education. Moreover, Colombia’s informal economy continues to be a significant issue, with many workers lacking social security and labor rights.

Corruption and political instability are additional barriers to progress. Despite improvements in transparency and governance, corruption remains a pervasive problem that undermines institutional trust. Additionally, the post-conflict transition after the 2016 peace agreement with FARC has been fraught with difficulties, including ongoing violence from other armed groups.

The environmental sustainability of Colombia’s development is another concern. The country’s rich biodiversity and natural resources are under pressure due to deforestation, mining, and expanding agriculture. Balancing economic growth with environmental protection will be crucial for Colombia’s long-term prosperity.

In summary, while Colombia still faces significant socio-economic challenges, labeling it as a “Third World” country oversimplifies its current status and potential. The nation has demonstrated resilience and innovation in transforming its economy and governance structures. Despite internal and external obstacles, Colombia’s progress toward greater security, prosperity, and inclusion suggests a country on the path to sustainable development.

Understanding Colombia beyond stereotypes requires recognizing the progress made and addressing the issues that still require attention. By building on existing reforms, leveraging its natural and human capital, and addressing systemic inequalities, Colombia can continue to forge a path of steady growth and development that defies the outdated labels of the past.

owl

Cite this page

Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/

"Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/ [Accessed: 12 May. 2024]

"Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/

"Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/. [Accessed: 12-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Colombia’s Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/colombias-economic-development-beyond-third-world-labels/ [Accessed: 12-May-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

owl

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

COMMENTS

  1. 3rd grade writing samples

    Third grade writing sample #3. Saving Water by Laura. Third graders are taught to emphasize the content and organization of their writing. Making edits to spelling and grammar are considered a final step — and aren't quite as important as getting their ideas on paper. As you read Laura's report, you may notice the spelling corrections ...

  2. Third Grade Essay Writing Worksheets and Printables

    Third grade essay writing worksheets help kids overcome writer's block and encourage teamwork and skill-building instead. Your child will create opinion-based pieces, elaborate on internal feelings, and learn to organize their thoughts as they write. Third grade essay writing worksheets are an excellent tool for working at home with your ...

  3. Looking at Writing: Third Grade

    Third graders can write an essay with a simple thesis statement, examples and supporting details, and a thoughtful concluding sentence. ... Select the writing sample links at left to view real examples of third grade writing at different skill levels. Featured video. Video developed by Great Schools (opens in a new window) and used with ...

  4. Teaching Your Third Grader to Write an Opinion Essay

    Look at a third-grade opinion rubric. Select a topic and write three short essays about it. Write one essay that clearly qualifies as an excellent essay; one that meets the requirements of a good essay, and one that is a poor essay. This will not take long because third-grade essays are usually not very long. 2.

  5. PDF 3rd Grade: Informational Writing Prompt: Horses and Zebras

    3rdGrade: Informational Writing Prompt: Horses and Zebras. This writing sample contains an introduction to the topic that is clear and stays focused. The writer synthesizes and integrates text evidence well into the response. The writer organizes the piece well and clearly outlines each example while using transitional strategies.

  6. Third Grade: Writing Sample 1

    Written by a third grader who receives special education for language arts. Writing is in response to a prompt, "Think about a person who is special; this could be a family member, a friend, or anyone else who is important to you. Write about why this person is special to you. Be sure to describe a few experiences you have had together that ...

  7. PDF AASA Annotated Writing Samples Grade 3

    The AASA ELA test will have a Writing unit and a Reading Unit 1 and Unit 2 for all grade levels. The structure of the sample Writing test is similar to the actual AASA Writing test. Each Writing test will have one or more passages that relate to a prompt. Students will create a written response to the prompt.

  8. Engaging Writing Prompts for 3rd Graders

    Updated on April 01, 2020. Students in 3rd grade should be writing regularly in a variety of styles and for a variety of audiences. Useful writing projects for 3rd graders include opinion, informative, and narrative essays, as well as short research projects. For many students, the most difficult part of writing is facing the blank page.

  9. Third Grade: Writing Sample 2

    This writer has a lot of ideas, but she needs make sure they make sense as she writes her story. She should be encouraged to reread and revise her piece to help her present her ideas in a clear way. Rereading can help identify information that needs to be added to help the reader understand the story. Other information may need to be deleted.

  10. PDF Grade 3 Informational/Expository & Opinion Writing Guide

    Grade 3 Informational & Opinion Guide ©2016 Empowering Writers, LLC able to work on a team of between 3 and 16 dogs to pull the sled. Dog Sled Racing mix of breeds that have Dog Sled drivers, or mushers, often enjoy racing with other dog sled teams. They must train their dogs to turn quickly and not to get tangled in the lines that connect their

  11. Informative writing prompts for grade 3

    Grade 3 writing prompts. Students are prompted to write short informative essays about grade level appropriate subjects. Some example sentence starters (stems) and linking words are provided. Informative writing prompt. Write about conflict. Write about junk food. Write about pets. Write about a future field trip.

  12. 3rd Grade Writing Samples

    168 South 3rd Avenue. Oakdale. CA. 95361. USA. 209-848-4884. 209-847-0155. 3rd Grade Writing Samples - Oakdale Joint Unified School District.

  13. How to Write A 3rd Grade Level Essay

    Write about your experience. To answer this prompt, your child should use descriptive writing and dialogue to tell their tale. Using the "five senses" is an important factor in writing a successful narrative. For example, they may have gotten lost in a clothing store and are writing about that experience. They would describe the colors of ...

  14. How to Write an Expository Essay for Grade Three

    Choose a Topic. You write an expository essay to tell or teach the reader about a topic. Start by choosing a topic that you think is interesting and that you already know a lot about. You might choose to write about an animal you like, a place you have visited or a person whom you have read about. If you have too many ideas, make a list and ...

  15. 50 Creative Third Grade Writing Prompts (Free Printable!)

    10. Tell about a time you helped somebody. 11. Tell about a time somebody helped you. 12. Tell about a memorable "first" in your life. For example, the first time you ate a particular kind of food, the first time you met your teacher, etc. 13. Describe step by step how to make a pizza.

  16. Printable 3rd Grade Informative Essay Structure Worksheets

    Worksheet. Informational Outlines 3. Worksheet. Magnify an MVP. Worksheet. 1. Browse Printable 3rd Grade Informative Essay Structure Worksheets. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

  17. Achievethecore.org :: ELA / Literacy

    The resources presented are from In Common: Effective Writing for All Students, authored by the Vermont Writing Collaborative with Student Achievement Partners and CCSSO. There are two types of resources available: On-Demand Writing provides a progression of writing across grades (K-5 and 6-12); students have written independently to the ...

  18. PDF Text-Dependent Analysis Sampler

    The rubric is provided with each sample TDA in this document. Students may receive an initial score of 0-4. This score is then multiplied by 2 giving the student a final TDA score of 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. Automated essay scoring or artificial intelligence (AI) scoring is used to score student responses to the TDA.

  19. 51 Awesome Opinion Writing Prompts for 3rd Grade Students

    These third grade opinion writing prompts promote critical thinking, highlight how students feel regarding certain topics, plus encourage learners to develop writing skills. So whether you're preparing for state testing or just want to assess students' writing growth, schedule into your writer's workshop plans this week a few of these ...

  20. Third Grade Writing

    Introducing Terrific Writing. Terrific Writing is a comprehensive writing curriculum for Third Grade. This curriculum is standards based (to the common core) and genre based. But best of all, it's actually easy to teach and engaging for students! In this curriculum, your students will develop a love of writing.

  21. Opinion writing for grade 3

    These worksheets and writing prompts help students express their opinions in writing in a structured manner. Supporting details: adding details to support the main idea. Writing opinion paragraphs: stating and supporting your opinion. Opinion paragraphs with examples: using examples to support your reasons. Opinion writing prompts: write ...

  22. Expository Writing Prompts for 3rd Grade: 43 Great Ideas

    3. Explain the reasons why people should avoid junk food. 4. Think of a person that you admire a lot. Explain why he or she is so special to you. 5. Explain to your teacher why you deserve to pass to the next grade level. 6. Think about the strategies that good readers implement as they read.

  23. Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

    Mission. The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives.

  24. Colombia's Economic Development Beyond "Third World" Labels

    This essay about the evolving perception of Colombia challenges the outdated notion of labeling it as a "Third World" country. It outlines the nation's significant progress in recent decades, highlighting economic growth, poverty reduction, and improvements in governance.