Unit Materials for 3rd Grade English Language Arts
Explore the texts and supporting materials used in each unit of 3rd Grade English Language Arts.
Need to purchase texts for this course?
Download the text list for the 2026–27 school year, which includes ISBNs and guidance on ordering quantities.
Fishtank Learning partners with two text vendors who offer convenient ordering options for a school or district adoption: The Reading Warehouse and Mackin. You can request an introduction to the appropriate representative by emailing [email protected].
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Defining Identity: Dyamonde Daniel and My Name is María Isabel
Core Texts
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Book: My Name Is María Isabel by Alma Flor Ada (Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 1995) — 860L
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Book: Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes (Puffin Books; Illustrated edition, 2010) — 590-630L
Supporting Texts
Rediscovering Thanksgiving: Fact vs. Fiction
Core Texts
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Book: Pilgrims: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #27 by Mary Pope Osborne (Random House Books for Young Readers, 2006) — 550L
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Book: The Wampanoag (A True Book: American Indians) by Kevin Cunningham and Peter Benoit (Children's Press, 2011) — 910L
Supporting Texts
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Book: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac (National Geographic Children's Books, 2004)
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Book: The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh (Aladdin, 1985)
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Book: This Land by Ashley Fairbanks
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Book: Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten
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Article: “The English Colonies”
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Article: “Letters from a Pilgrim Child (Letter 1)” (Scholastic Inc.)
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Article: “Letters from a Pilgrim Child (Letter 2)” (Scholastic Inc.)
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Article: “Notes from a Wampanoag Child (Entry 1)” (Scholastic Inc.)
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Article: “Notes from a Wampanoag Child (Entry 2)” (Scholastic Inc.)
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Painting: Robert's Rules of Order by Robert Peters
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Illustration: The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth, 1621
- Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Passing Down Wisdom: Indigenous, Hispanic, and African American Traditional Stories
Core Texts
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Book: The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón and illustrated by Amanda Mijangos (Levine Querido)
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Book: Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
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Book: The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia Hamilton and illustrated by Leo Dillon, Diane Dillon Ph.D. — 660L
Supporting Texts
Understanding the Animal Kingdom
Core Texts
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Book: What is a Life Cycle? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman and Jacqueline Langille (Crabtree Pub Co, 1998) — NC880L
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Book: What is the Animal Kingdom? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Pub Co, 1997) — IG770L
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Book: How do Animals Adapt? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman and Niki Walker (Crabtree Pub Co, 2000) — NC940L
Supporting Texts
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Photo: Skull Image Set (G3, U4)
- Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Embracing Difference: The Hundred Dresses and Garvey's Choice
Core Texts
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Book: The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2004) — 870L
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Book: Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes (WordSong, 2016) — 620L
Supporting Texts
Exploring Ancient Civilizations: Rome
Core Texts
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Book: Ancient Rome and Pompeii: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #13 by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce (Random House Books for Young Readers) (April 2006) — 750L
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Book: DKfindout! Ancient Rome by DK Children (Penguin Random House, 2016) — IG860L
Supporting Texts
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Book: Eyewitness Ancient Rome by DK Children (Penguin Random House, 2022)
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Article: “Roman Class Structure”
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Article: “The Fall of the Roman Empire” (Readworks.org)
- Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Honoring Indigenous Peoples
Core Texts
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Book: The People Shall Continue by Simon J. Ortiz and illustrated by Sharol Graves (Children's Book Press, 2017) — 660L
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Book: Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith and illustrated by Jim Madsen (Heartdrum, 2002) — 820L
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Book: The First Woman Cherokee Chief: Wilma Pearl Mankiller by Patricia Morris Buckley and illustrated by Aphelandra Messer (Step into Reading, 2023) — 640L
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Book: This Land by Ashley Fairbanks and illustrated by Bridget George (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2024) — AD630L
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Book: Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew and illustrated by Joe Morse (Tundra Books, 2018) — NC970L
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Book: Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Millbrook Press, 2021) — 940L
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Book: Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Bridget George (Roaring Brook Press, 2023) — AD540L
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Book: Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorrell and illustrated by Arigon Starr (Kokila, 2023) — 1040L
Supporting Texts
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Photo: Image Set (G3, Alt U2, L1)
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Article: “Indigenous Communities Leading Today” by Fishtank Staff
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Painting: Homeland by Juane Quick-to-See Smith
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Video: “Juane Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map” by Whitney Museum of American Art
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Painting: Robert's Rules of Order by Robert Peters
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Video: “Water Journey Trailer” (Jeff Bear)
- Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading
Discovering Mythology: Roman Myths
Core Texts
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Book: Classic Starts: Roman Myths by Diane Namm (Sterling Children's Books, 2014)
Supporting Texts
The Power of Friendship: Charlotte's Web
Core Texts
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Book: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (HarperCollins Publishers, 2012) — 680L
