The Best Books for 3rd Graders
Reading can be an invaluable tool for learners of all ages. The books we read as children can have a long-lasting impact on our ability to comprehend, enjoy learning, share ideas, and understand and communicate the good news of the Gospel.
3rd Grade Novel Studies
Total Language Plus offers novel studies study guides for homeschooling families that help guide the reading process and enrich learning. Through our program, students complete worksheets on comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar, and choose from enrichment suggestions to aid the learning process.
TLP’s novel studies are based on age-appropriate, award-winning books that are widely recommended for both male and female students and are complex enough to justify studying for several weeks. Below are a few books for which we have created comprehensive study guides that we highly recommend for 3rd graders.
Charlotte’s Web
Written in 1952 by E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web follows a farm pig named Wilbur, who soon discovers that he is being raised as livestock. He befriends a spider named Charlotte, who hatches a plan to save Wilbur by weaving words into her web to get the attention of the farmer and convince him to spare Wilber. Once Wilbur has been saved, Charlotte dies of old age, leaving an egg sack for Wilbur to care for. While many of her children leave the barn, three stay and Wilber is left with many new friends.
The writing is coupled with beautiful illustrations that will engage young children while teaching them new words and concepts through context clues. It also explores important themes such as life and death, change, loss, and friendship in a way that is both appropriate and engaging for 3rd grade students.
Charlotte’s Web is a great book for 3rd grade students as it offers unique opportunities for novel studies. TLP’s study guide provides effective worksheets to teach vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking skills. It also includes supplementary art projects, writing assignments, and field trips to help teach your child about practical concepts like farms, fairs, and animals, and connect core themes to their own lives and biblical lessons.
The Courage of Sarah Noble
The Courage of Sarah Noble, written by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, tells the true story of a young girl who travels to Connecticut with her father in the early 18th century and the experiences with the native Schaghticoke people. “Keep up your courage, Sarah Noble” are the words her mother had said to her, but Sarah is only eight and finds it difficult to feel brave inside as she leaves her mother and siblings behind and ventures into the dark woods to help her father build a new home for their family.
Simply and beautifully written, Sarah’s story is inspiring for young children. It’s a rich story that features a young protagonist who finds the strength within herself to accompany her father into unfamiliar wilderness, confront her fears, and befriend her new neighbors. Along the way, she discovers that being brave, even when you’re afraid, is the true meaning of courage.
Published in 1954, this award-winning novel represents a wonderful opportunity for 3rd grade students who are ready to read their first chapter book and begin their novel studies journey. This is the easiest study guide TLP offers and is a wonderful introduction to longer form reading with more complex themes and characters. Broken down into weekly units, the study guide asks students to read a section of the novel and respond to comprehension questions specifically related to those chapters. Each unit also features critical thinking and enrichment activities such as projects, drawing prompts, writing assignments, and puzzles.
The Whipping Boy
Written by Sid Fleischman and published in 1986, The Whipping Boy follows the story of a spoiled and misbehaving Prince Horace (also referred to as “Prince Brat”) and his “whipping boy,” an orphan named Jemmy who receives punishments in place of the prince when he misbehaves. Despite the unfairness of his situation, Jemmy takes the opportunity to learn while the prince ignores his lessons. When the prince decides to run away and take Jemmy with him, the two become embroiled with criminals. In order to trick their captors and escape, the two boys must trade places and learn to trust each other along the way.
The Whipping Boy is among the more advanced study guides offered by TLP and provides a wonderful opportunity for novel studies for 3rd graders. The story covers a variety of interesting themes such as friendship, power, empathy, and trust. The novel is well-written and TLP’s study guide aids in teaching vocabulary, grammar, and analytical thinking. It introduces students to relevant concepts related to power structures, history, criminality, ethics, and more.
Our study guide allows students to amass knowledge and learn practical skills in reading and writing through valuable suggested activities, field trips, and other enrichment opportunities. The novel is filled with complex, imperfect characters, allowing students to engage with the story critically and through multiple different perspectives.