story writing paper for 3rd grade

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The Best Printable Story Writing Paper for Kids

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Are you looking for printable writing paper that will help your young kids learn how to write? Then check out this fun selection of story writing paper . You’ll find paper with story boxes, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and fun story booklets to help inspire your kids.

Printable Writing Paper

Printable writing paper are some of those preK-12 resources that you can’t have too much of. You can keep it stored on your computer and only print what you need rather than keeping stacks of paper throughout your home or classroom.

So browse through this list of printable writing paper templates to find the perfect paper for you and your children.

Picture Story Pages

Do you want to teach your kids narrative writing? Then start with some printable paper that features a drawing box. This paper is great for kids in kindergarten or the 1st grade to write short stories.

Story Paper

Primary Story Paper – Are you looking for paper with a dotted midline and a picture box? Then you will want to print this picture box pdf download. It’s a great resource to keep printed and available for your kids to grab when they’re inspired to write a story.

Printable Story Paper for Kids

Story Paper for Kids – These story paper pages feature six different styles of picture boxes. You can print the templates onto white paper or colored paper for holidays and other special occasions.

Story Booklets

Younger children love story booklets. These booklets allow kids to use regular paper to write their own stories. Plus, it’s a fun way for kindergarten students to create their first book.

Booklet: All About Me

All About Me Booklet – Print a bunch of these booklets for birthday parties or the first day of school. Filling out the booklets and sharing them is a great way to encourage kids to

Story Template Printable

Printable Story Template – Help your first grade kids create a book with this fun printable story template. You will need to cut and fold the pages and staple them to create the book.

Creative Writing Prompts

Use creating writing prompts to improve your children’s writing skills. The prompts help little learners learn more about the writing process without overwhelming the kids. Plus, it’s a great place for young kids to start writing.

Rainy Days Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt: Rainy Days – This simple rainy-day writing prompt is a great resource to keep in your hip pocket. Kids write about their favorite activity to do on a rainy day.

Story About Recess

Recess Story – This fill-in-the-block worksheet is the best thing to get kids writing. It’s the perfect introduction to independent work for young kids.

Writing Prompts for Young Children

24 Kindergarten Writing Prompts – Get small kids writing with story writing paper for kindergarten. This pack has 24 different writing prompts that can be used to asses kids writing or placed in a writing station.

Book Report

Another fun way to introduce kids to the writing process is by teaching them how to write a book report. These book report worksheets are perfect for kids from preschool – 3rd grade. They have ample room to write and a writing paper template so they’re not left staring at a blank piece of paper.

Easy Book Report

Simple Book Report – This simple book report form is the best place to start a young kid. Kids fill out their name and the date, along with the title and author of the book. Kids finish by drawing a picture of one of their favorite parts of the story.

Book Report Form

Primary Book Report Form – This book report form is slightly more advanced as it has kids check a box to say if the story is fiction or non-fiction before writing two or three sentences about the book.

Printable Worksheets

Download and print a printable worksheet to include in tomorrow’s lesson plans. The worksheets are great for walking a child through creating their own story. While you can find these worksheets on a wide variety of subject areas, I decided to focus on a few fun downloads that young kids would love.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow – Get kids writing and help them understand the difference between yesterday, today, and tomorrow with this fun pdf format worksheet. The practice paper gives young children a spot to write down what they did yesterday, what they’re doing today, and what they will do tomorrow.

Swimming in the Ocean

Swimming in the Ocean – Give kids a fun lesson in creative writing with this simple fill-in-the-blank worksheet. Each sentence is started to make it easy to get kids writing.

Rainbow Fish

Rainbow Fish – This fun worksheet for kids in kindergarten and the first grade was created to go along with the book Rainbow Fish . Kids answer questions about the main character, setting, problem, and solution. They also have the opportunity to write one sentence describing a good friend.

Worksheet: Story Elements, Characters, Setting

Story Elements, Characters, and Settings Worksheet – Have your kids write about the elements of a good story with this fun worksheet. It’s designed to be used as homework, independent work, and in small groups.

Printable Handwriting Paper

Don’t forget to download some free printable kindergarten writing paper. The printables give you plenty of practice pages for kids between preschool and the 2nd grade. The wide-lined paper helps with letter proportion and is fun to keep on hand so kids can write a story whenever they’re inspired.

Printable Lined Paper

Lined Paper Printable – Do you need pages of wide lined pages? Then download and print this lined paper printable. It’s a great way for kids to write short stories, poems, or even social studies reports.

Lined Paper to Print

Printable Lined Paper – If you’re searching for the right lined paper printable to print, check out this selection of lined printable paper. You’ll find pages with story boxes, double-lined paper, and single-lined paper. There are even options for kids in middle school and high school.

Story Writing Paper for Kindergarten

As you look for story writing paper for kindergarten, you will find there’s a variety of different styles to choose from. You can use worksheets that walk kids through the basics of writing or hand children a black sheet of paper. In the end, choose the method that works best for you and your kids.

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

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

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.

2. What are you best at?

3. What do you want to learn more about?

4. I could never live without______.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

14. What does it mean to be a hero?

15. I am afraid of _______ because_______.

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

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

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

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

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?

21. If I were a spider, I’d _______.

22. Three things that make me happy are ______.

23. What is your favorite holiday and why?

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

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

26. Write about a dream you recently had.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Printable Writing Paper with Picture Box

For younger children, this printable writing paper for kids features a box for drawing a picture, and lines for writing a story. Use with our easy writing formula to help kids get started with creative writing.

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50 Exclusive 3rd Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free

• February 22, 2024

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What are writing prompts, benefits of using writing prompts, what level is 3rd grade, 1. what would happen if you found a garden where the plants could talk what would they say to each other, 2. what would you discover if you were an astronaut exploring a new planet, 3. if you built a time machine with your friends but it only traveled to the past, where and when would you end up, 4. what would life be like if you lived underwater who would be your neighbors, 5. what would you do if you woke up one morning and you were 10 feet tall, 6. how would you react if you got sucked into your favorite book what adventures would you have inside, 7. what kind of mischief would you get into if you found a cloak that made you invisible, 8. what would you do if your pet dog started talking one day what secrets would it share with you, 9. can you imagine a land where everything is made of chocolate describe what a day there looks like., 10. if you could have any superpower for a day, which one would you choose and why, 11. can you describe your imaginary friend and the adventures you go on together, 12. what kind of house would the fourth little pig build, and how would the story change, 13. what rules would you make if you were in charge of the world for one day, 14. how would your day change if gravity stopped working suddenly, 15. where would you end up if you found a secret door in your house, 16. how would you find the treasure if you discovered an old treasure map, 17. what happens next if you meet a monster in your backyard, but it’s friendly, 18. what’s the first thing you would paint if whatever you painted with a magic brush became real, 19. what would you do if you could take a trip to the moon, 20. what’s the best gift you’ve ever received, and why was it so special, 21. what would your daily life look like if you lived in a medieval castle, recommendation.

Writing is one of the best learning tools in a formal school setting. The catch is when it is learned early. So, the need for 3rd-grade students to start learning how to write is of the essence. I will take time to list and explain some 3rd grade writing prompts.

Students undergo a significant transition in third grade as they build upon foundational writing concepts and skills.

With ample practice, they are now delving into more complex writing skills, learning to draw connections and analyze their topics.

The 50 writing prompts provided serve as valuable tools to aid students in mastering and refining their writing abilities.

These prompts encourage students to explore various subjects, fostering creativity and critical thinking.

Through these engaging activities, students can further develop their writing proficiency, preparing them for future academic challenges and enabling them to express their ideas with clarity and confidence.

Wed will list 50 3rd grade writing prompts that will spark creativity in and fun while learning how to write.

Writing prompts are essentially starting points for creative writing. They can take various forms, like a sentence, image, question, or scenario, designed to spark your imagination and get you writing.

They can be used for different purposes:

Overcoming writer’s block: When you’re staring at a blank page and struggling to come up with an idea, prompts can provide a jumping-off point to get your creative juices flowing.

Exploring different genres and styles: You can find prompts specifically designed for genres like fiction, poetry, non-fiction, or specific styles like humor, mystery, or historical fiction. This can help you expand your writing skills and experiment with different approaches.

Practicing specific writing skills: Some prompts focus on particular aspects of writing, like character development, dialogue, plot, or description. This can help you hone your skills and become a more well-rounded writer.

Having fun and being creative: Writing prompts can be a fun and engaging way to express yourself and explore your imagination. They’re not limited to serious writing; they can be silly, humorous, or even nonsensical, just as long as they get you writing and having fun!

Read more: What is a Prompt in Writing? Choosing the Right Writing Prompt for Your Genre and Style

• Overcome writer’s block:  As mentioned before, they can get you started even when you’re feeling stuck.
• Improve your writing skills:  By trying different styles and prompts, you can develop your creativity, vocabulary, and storytelling ability.
• Boost your confidence:  Completing prompts can give you a sense of accomplishment and encourage you to write more regularly.
• Connect with other writers:  Sharing your writing based on prompts can be a great way to connect with other writers and get feedback.

The level of 3rd grade depends on many aspects. For example;

• Age:  Typically, children in 3rd grade are  8-9 years old .
• School year:  In most countries, 3rd grade is the  third year of formal or compulsory education . This means it’s the third year after Kindergarten and the first year after 1st and 2nd grade.
• Curriculum:  The curriculum in 3rd grade builds upon the foundation of reading, writing, and math skills learned in previous years. It also introduces new subjects like science, social studies, and sometimes arts and music. The specific topics and depth of knowledge vary depending on the country and educational system.

Reading Level:

• Reading level:  In the US, the expected reading level for the end of 3rd grade is around  grades 2.5-3.5  on the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level. This means the average 3rd grader should be able to read and comprehend texts written at that level. However, reading levels can vary significantly among individuals.

Developmental Stage:

• Cognitive development:  Children in 3rd grade are in the concrete operational stage of cognitive development according to Piaget’s theory . This means they can think logically but still have difficulty with abstract concepts.
• Social and emotional development:  3rd graders are developing their sense of self and their relationships with others. They are becoming more independent and responsible, but they also still need guidance and support from adults.

Overall, 3rd grade is a transitional year in education and development. Children are solidifying foundational skills and expanding their knowledge base while also becoming more independent learners.

The specific level varies depending on the context, but it’s a crucial stage in setting the groundwork for future academic success.

Below are the 50 writing prompts for 3rd grade kids.

22. How would you and your friends find the lost city of gold, and what would you do?

23. Where is the first place you would go if you had a flying carpet?

24. What would animals tell you if you could talk to them?

25. What kind of teacher would you be and what subjects would you love to teach?

26. What would happen if your wish at a magical well came true? What did you wish for?

27. Describe the snowy adventures you would have if you woke up to your town covered in snow.

28. What would a day in your life look like if you had a pet dinosaur?

29. How would you spend a day if it lasted for years?

30. What would you find if you decided to explore the haunted house on the hill?

31. What changes would you make if you were president for a day?

32. How would you bake the world’s largest cookie, and what would you do with it?

33. What would you see and do if you could shrink down and go inside a computer?

34. How would you adapt if you found a land where everyone was a giant except for you?

35. Where would you go and what would you see if you could fly anywhere you wanted?

36. What magic would you discover if you found an enchanted forest?

37. What would you do if you could spend a day as your pet?

38. Can you describe a school where the students learn magic instead of math and science?

39. What adventures or challenges would you face if you were invisible for a day?

40. What would happen if you baked a cake that granted wishes when eaten?

41. What features would your robot friend have, and what adventures would you have together?

42. Where is your dream vacation, and what would you do there?

43. What would you grab if you won a 5-minute shopping spree in a toy store?

44. What would your ultimate treehouse look like, and what features would it have?

45. Where would you wear a pair of shoes that could make you dance like a pro?

46. How would you feel in a world without books? What would you miss the most?

47. Can you invent a robot that could help you with your homework? Describe it.

48. What story would a star in the sky tell about its life?

49. Why is your favorite season your favorite, and what do you love about it?

50. How would you win a race around the world? Describe your journey.

Creative writing is a form of writing where imagination, originality, and expressiveness are emphasized. It goes beyond the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature.

Creative writing is important for 3rd graders because it enhances their imagination, encourages critical thinking, improves language and vocabulary skills, and offers a form of emotional expression.

Encourage your 3rd graders to write more by providing them with engaging and fun writing prompts, creating a comfortable writing space, setting aside regular writing times, and encouraging them to read a variety of books.

If your child doesn’t like writing, try to identify the reasons behind their reluctance. It could be due to a lack of confidence, difficulty in coming up with ideas or finding the physical act of writing challenging. Offer them support by exploring different types of writing (like poems, short stories, or journals), using technology to make writing more engaging, or breaking writing tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.

These questions are designed to encourage 3rd graders to think creatively and explore their ideas through writing.

These writing prompts for 3rd grade kids can be personalized and can serve as ideas as well.

• https://www.weareteachers.com/third-grade-writing-prompts/
• What is a Prompt in Writing? Choosing the Right Writing Prompt for Your Genre and Style
• 50 Exclusive 6th Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free
• 50 Exclusive 2nd Grade Writing Prompts That are Printable for Free
• 50 Creative Narrative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

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73 Silly & Wild 3rd Grade Story Prompts!

by  Royd Hatta

May 21, 2023

Exercises, Reluctant Writer, Story Writing, Writing Prompts, Young Writers

Here's a list of our 3rd Grade Story Prompts that will inspire your 3rd grader to pick up a pencil or pen and let the words flow!

Parents and kids, if you can think of a fun prompt that you want to share here, feel free to contact me at our Contact page !

If it's a good fit for this list, we'll include it along with your first name and last name's initial. 

Oh, and if you have a story that you wrote based on these crazy prompts, no matter how short or long, I'd love to read it! Maybe we'll post it on this blog!

Finally, for basic Story tips that we use to begin OR add to your rollicking tales, scroll to the bottom and use what works for you. 

Okay! Now " knock OUR socks off with your story!" That is, go wild and impress us with a fun hero on a silly and wild adventure. We can't wait to read it!

Writing Coach

Fantasy • Story Prompts

Image by upklyak on Freepik

• A magical key opens doors to different worlds every time it is turned.
• A friendly monster lives in a book and helps children fall asleep at night.
• A fairy plays pranks on humans until she learns the importance of kindness.
• Sea creatures have to work together to save a mermaid trapped in a shipwreck.
• A boy finds a talking rock that grants wishes.
• What if you found a secret door in your house that leads to a magical world?
• What if you discovered a portal that takes you to the land of giants?
• What if you found a mysterious potion that can make you invisible?
• What if you had a magic wand that could grant three wishes?
• A group of toys come to life and go on an adventure to find their missing friend.
• What if a group of magical creatures help a prince find his princess?
• What if a cat with wings was a legendary hero that fought evil kings?
• What if you could ride on an enormous pet bird to a magical world? (by Y.H)

Silly Animals • Story Prompts

Image by Freepik

• A gathering of pets have to find the perfect outfit to wear to the fancy animal ball.
• An adventurous rabbit goes on a journey to find the biggest carrot in the world.
• A wise old owl helps a lost baby mouse find its way back home.
• A snowman who wants to be a firefighter.
• A crab that dreams of being a ballerina.
• A horse who learns how to play the guitar.
• A lion who wants to be a vegetarian.
• A penguin who becomes a famous artist.
• A fish who wants to fly.
• A turtle who becomes a ninja.
• A spider who wants to be a fashion designer.
• A koala who wants to be a professional wrestler.
• A butterfly helps a group of flowers find their missing colors.
• A cat becomes a fashion designer and creates trendy outfits for other animals.
• A lion becomes a painter and creates beautiful works of art.
• A caterpillar eats in a magic garden and turns into a magic butterfly.
• A sneaky squirrel steals all the nuts from the other animals in the forest.
• A bear who learns how to ride a bike.
• An elephant who wants to be a singer.
• A snake who wants to be a magician.
• A giraffe becomes a detective and solves a mystery in the savanna.
• A crab learns how to surf and becomes a champion.
• A kangaroo becomes a basketball player and leads his team to victory.
• A worm becomes a scientist and discovers a new species of insect.
• A worm becomes a superhero and saves the day.
• What if a dolphin learns how to play the piano and becomes a famous musician?
• A group of animals have to plan the ultimate surprise party for their best friend.
• A team of birds build the biggest nest to win the annual birdhouse competition.
• A sea creature team must compete in the Ocean Olympics to win the gold medal.
• Animal detectives must solve the mystery of a missing cake from a bake sale.
• Silly insects must form a band at the bug music festival.
• Hamsters build their own amusement park for their friends to enjoy.
• Neighborhood animals create their own superhero team to save their city.
• Furry creature friends plan the best birthday party ever for their friend in the forest.
• A band of animals invent their own toys to sell at the animal toy store.
• Animals plant their own garden to make the best salad for the annual food festival.

Science Fiction • Story Prompts

• A superhero dog saves the day and becomes the town's beloved hero.
• What if you woke up with the power to talk to animals?
• What if you exited a building and found yourself in the time of the dinosaurs?
• What if you were granted the power to time travel?
• What if a robot learns how to play soccer and leads his team to victory?
• What if a group of ants builds a rocket ship to explore outer space?
• A robot must create new gadgets for itself to win the obstacle course championships.
• An alien learns about Earth and makes new friends at an outdoor summer camp.
• Three kids must design and build a cool new vehicle to travel to Mars.
• A robot creates new strange recipes that kids want to eat.
• What if a kid inventor builds a pet robot that can almost do anything!

Adventure • Story Prompts

• A group of kids discover a lost treasure in an old abandoned amusement park.
• Four friends design and build the fastest roller coaster in the world.
• Three friends design and build their own crazy treehouse for their club meetings.
• A brave firefighter saves a cat from a burning building.
• A group of kids build their own pirate ship and go on an adventure to find treasure.
• Kids put on a talent show to raise money for their local animal shelter.
• What if you discovered a hidden world inside your closet?
• What if you found a genie in a bottle?
• What if you found a map that leads to a lost city of gold?
• What if you discovered a talking tree in the forest?
• What if you found a book that can transport you to other worlds?
• What if you discovered a secret lab hidden beneath your school?
• What if a group of penguins go on a mission to find a lost treasure in Antarctica?
• What if a little girl discovers a secret garden filled with talking animals?

         Beyond the Box Writing Tips:

• Make us Worry  
• Make us Care
• Create a Strong Want for your Hero. What Must they do?
• Focus on your character’s relationships or tension with others .
• Find your flow! “Just get into the Story” and walk in your hero’s shoes .
• Observations (Nuggets of Wisdom)
• Description

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The Guide to 3rd Grade: Reading and Writing

Review reading and writing curricula for third grade, including what to expect and how to support learning..

Your child has mastered the fundamentals in 1st grade and 2nd grade , and is now ready to thrive through 3rd grade! But it’s not just another year: This grade is a very important time in your child’s education, because it’s when students transition from what are often known as the “lower grades” to the “upper grades.” It is a crucial period in students’ learning as they become more independent and mature learners.

In 3rd grade, students progress from practicing basic skills to mastering them, and move on to develop more complex skills. 

Read on for what to expect this year, and shop all books and resources for third grade at The Scholastic Store . 

For more book and reading ideas,  sign up  for our Scholastic Parents newsletter.

Reading in 3rd Grade 

After mastering literacy skills in earlier grades, 3rd graders become better and more independent readers. Third grade reading focuses on teaching kids how to think and talk about what they read in deeper and more detailed ways. Students read longer texts, and most read fictional chapter books .

Many reading lessons in 3rd grade are dedicated to writing and talking about the meanings, lessons, and important ideas in texts. Third graders are encouraged to develop their own points of view about books they read, and to discuss their ideas about a text or characters.  Series books are important in 3rd grade, because they allow students to make connections between different books and talk about how certain characters develop. As 3rd graders explore a greater range of books and longer texts, they become more fluent readers and learn to read, define, and pronounce complex words.

To build reading skills, your 3rd grader :

• Reads multi-syllable and grade-appropriate, irregularly spelled words (ask your child’s teacher for a list of these words).
• Reads grade-level text with appropriate pace, accuracy, expression, and understanding.
• Self-corrects mistakes and re-reads when necessary.
• Talks about and answers questions about a text using specific examples from the text and connects different parts of a text.
• Reads a variety of texts including, fiction, non-fiction, fables, and poetry, and understands and talks about their main ideas and lessons.
• Begins to understand the difference between literal and non-literal text such as metaphors and analogies.
• Uses the text and context to determine the meaning of words.
• Is able to express their own point of view about characters or a text.
• Makes comparisons between books written by the same author and books in series that are about the same characters.

Third Grade Reading Activities

Get Serious About Series : Find a series that interests your child and begin to read it together. You can read to your child, your child can read to you, or they can read a chapter independently. You can even interview each other as you read — ask about main ideas, events, and thoughts you each have about the books and characters.

Look It Up : When your child encounters a word they don’t know the meaning of, look up the meaning together. Use a grade-appropriate tool like the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary  — or you can even keep your own family dictionary, recording words and their definitions. Use the word yourself, or encourage your child to use that word in a sentence sometime during the day.

Learn About an Author : As your child develops favorite authors, look online for that author’s website. They can email or write a letter to the author (under your supervision).

Writing in 3rd Grade

Third graders continue to practice writing the pieces they learned to do in 2nd grade, but now also write longer ones with more detail. What’s more, 3rd graders learn increasingly sophisticated language, using phrases and terms to provide examples and make connections within their writing.

More time is spent on planning, revising, and editing texts in 3 rd grade — and as a result, your child learns the “writing process” authors go through. Students may spend a long period of time (say, a few weeks) working on one piece. They also practice writing pieces in shorter periods of time in class and through homework. Third graders continue to use and become comfortable with technology as they employ computers for writing pieces and doing research.

To build writing skills, your 3rd grader :

• Opinion Pieces : Students introduce their opinions, note the reasons for those opinions, and provide a conclusion.
• Narrative Pieces : Students write about an event, using descriptive details, feelings, and proper order — and ultimately provide a conclusion.
• Informative/Explanatory Pieces : Students introduce a topic and use facts, definitions, and, if helpful, illustrations to further explain the topic, eventually leading to a conclusion.  
• Uses terms such as:  because ,  since, for example, also, another , and  but  to elaborate on and make connections in their writing. 
• Plans, revises, and edits their writing, going through the same process that most writers do.
• Uses digital tools (under the guidance of the teacher) to publish their writing and interact and communicate with others.
• Begins to take notes and do research for short research projects.
• Spends various amounts of time writing a piece, ranging from a short period of time (such as 30 minutes) to working on one piece over the course of a few weeks.

Third Grade Writing Activities

Write About Your Lives : When your family experiences an enjoyable or important moment, you and your child can write about it together in a narrative piece. Describe the events that occurred using details and emotion, then send the piece to family members or friends to share the event and the writing.

Get Technical : Help your child use a computer to research a topic or communicate with friends and family. Your third grader can also use the computer to write their own pieces or pieces you write together.

Learn How to Do Something New : Pick something fun you and your child want to learn how to do, like drawing cartoons. Research the topic online or in a book together and create an informative piece, explaining the subject. You can then do the project yourselves or teach another family member or friend using the piece you and your child wrote.  

Shop the best resources for second grade below! You can find all books and activities at  The Scholastic Store . 

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How to Teach Writing to 3rd Graders

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Teaching writing to third graders can be frustrating at times, but it’s also fun! I am going to share three simple tips to show you how to teach writing to third graders effectively!

How to Teach Writing to Third Graders: Three Simple Ideas

If you focus on these three things, I promise you will see growth in writing throughout the year! Teaching third graders to write should focus on creativity, grammar, and forming a strong paragraph. With these tips you can do just that! 

Use Mentor Texts

Mentor texts are a great way to start a unit. They give students something to go off of and start their creative process.

How does this work?

• Read the mentor text (any picture book) and talk about the writing style through discussion questions.
• Do one or two activities to go with the mentor text to strengthen their understanding of the text and the writing process.
• Start a writing unit/process that focuses on that text.

Example: Read any of the Who Would Win books (highly recommended for the third grade age range). Then, have students research two animals. Then, they write a research essay on Who Would Win between those two animals. Check that unit out here! 

Go Through the Writing Process

When thinking about how to teach third graders to write well, the writing process always comes to mind. Explicitly teaching students how to go from creative idea, to rough drafts, to final draft is important. 

But how does this look?

• Introduce the prompt through a mentor text. ( Psst…see above! )
• Allow students to think creatively about ideas for the prompt. (Brainstorming!)
• Then, have students do a prewrite to take their idea to a format that would fit that paper.
• Rough Draft! Explicitly teach students how to rough draft and not worry about errors until later. ALWAYS do this paper and pencil.
• Editing and Revising. I typically edit one day and revise the next day. During this time, I will work with a small group of students and have the rest of the students editing and revising each other. Using a checklist is a great way to make sure they are looking for the right items! 
• Final Draft- Discuss the importance of getting the grammar, sentence structure, spelling, etc., correct during this step.

While you are doing all of this, teach mini-writing lessons. Example: After rough drafts, teach a lesson on descriptive language, and have students go back through their rough draft to add descriptive words. 

This typically takes 2 weeks to complete for one prompt. 

Focus on One to Two Skills Each Writing Unit 

Each time you begin a unit, decide on one or two things you want to focus on. Different skills could be: descriptive language, quotations, paragraph formation, citing research, etc. 

The goal is to pick one or two to focus on. Trying to focus on all parts of writing each unit will leave you exhausted and your students will learn nothing.

Then, teach a mini lesson on that skill before they begin their rough draft and again after the rough draft. When editing and revising, you can focus on that skill. Then, while grading the writing, assess that skill. 

How to Teach Writing to Third Graders: Bonus Tips 

• Add a free write day each week. This keeps students who love to write extra engaged in the process.
• Play a game like Left, Right, Center when it comes to editing and revising. You roll a dice and if it says to pass the paper to the left or right, the students do so. Then, they do the first editing part on the checklist for that paper. If it says to throw it in the center. They move all the papers to the center and go to a new seat and grab a new paper to do the next checklist part. This way they are editing multiple writing samples and they are extra engaged!
• Use holidays to add extra engagement to writing! Ex: My Santa Letter Writing unit found here!
• Add videos to teach and review skills. Here is my favorite set of writing videos! 
• Want everything ready to go for you?! I have an entire year’s worth of writing units that are full of lesson plans, writing processes, and more! Check it out here!

Want a free sample to see how the writing process works? Head here to grab that freebie!

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Hannah Wilde

I am so glad you’re here! I love helping 3rd-5th grade teachers by providing ideas, engaging resources, and professional development they need. I am a literacy coach who is here to help lessen the workload for teachers while making them more confident! I want students to be continually engaged in a rigorous environment!

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Lined Writing Paper

Below you'll find fun and useful lined writing paper for kids . We've included blank lined paper as well as graphic themes like Christmas, Valentine's Day and Halloween. We'll be adding more writing activity sheets in the future so check back often! Check out all of our writing worksheets !

American Flag Lined Writing Paper

Kids will enjoy this American Flag lined paper, to write a letter or their thoughts about a special USA holiday.

Butterfiles Lined Writing Paper

Butterfly lined paper makes a great background for hopes and dreams to be put into writing.

Christmas Writing Paper

This printable lined paper template includes a colorful Christmas tree and colorful lines for your youngster to write on.

Easter Lined Writing Paper

Let your students tell you their favorite part of Easter on this Easter themed lined writing paper!

Fall Lined Writing Paper

Beautiful Fall themed paper for a beautiful season! Kids can create masterpieces on this specially designed lined writing paper.

Halloween Writing Paper

This Halloween writing paper with lines is certainly a treat!

This lined writing paper doesn’t have the center guide lines. The template can be printed as much as you like!

Lined Writing Paper with Center Guide

Here’s some printable lined writing paper for your student! Have fun and print as much as you like.

School Themed Lined Writing Paper

School themed, lined, writing paper can make them love telling you all their ideas and dreams for this very special year!

Spring Lined Writing Paper

A great way to spend a rainy day is writing on this specially designed writing paper. With a Spring theme, this paper is lined to make it a great tool for even the youngest writers to express themselves!

St. Patricks Day Lined Writing Paper

Use this fun writing paper to encourage your students to write something about St. Patricks Day or something green!

Summer Lined Writing Paper

While parents may not always agree, kids love the summertime and there are plenty of fun ideas to write about. Use this lined writing paper in class or at home.

Thanksgiving Lined Writing Paper

Us this Thanksgiving themed writing paper in class or home to encourage your student to write about something they are thankful for or whatever they feel inspired to write about!

Valentine’s Day Writing Paper for Kids

You’ll love this Valentine’s Day lined paper! This printable template include colorful hearts and lots of space for your student or child to get creative!

Winter Lined Writing Paper

Winter is a fun time of year, and is filled with writing opportunities. Let your students come up with creative ways to express themselves with a fun writing exercise about winter!

Comic Strip Templates – 5 Designs

Students love it when they get to try new things. Here is a free comic book template you can print out for your students. Give them a chance to write in a way out of the ordinary!

Story Paper Printable Page, with Picture box and Lines for kindergarten - 3rd

Description

This printable Primary Story Writing Paper page for kids features a Draw and Write format on 8.5x11 inches (A4) paper with picture space and primary writing lines suitable for kindergarten through third grade.

Primary story writing paper is a valuable tool for educators who work with young students.

This paper enables educators to more effectively track and assess students' writing progress, including improvements in handwriting, letter formation, and storytelling abilities over time.

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Teachers are using AI to grade essays. But some experts are raising ethical concerns

W hen Diane Gayeski, a professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College, receives an essay from one of her students, she runs part of it through ChatGPT, asking the AI tool to critique and suggest how to improve the work.

“The best way to look at AI for grading is as a teaching assistant or research assistant who might do a first pass … and it does a pretty good job at that,” she told CNN.

She shows her students the feedback from ChatGPT and how the tool rewrote their essay. “I’ll share what I think about their intro, too, and we’ll talk about it,” she said.

Gayeski requires her class of 15 students to do the same: run their draft through ChatGPT to see where they can make improvements.

The emergence of AI is reshaping education, presenting real benefits, such as automating some tasks to free up time for more personalized instruction, but also some big hazards, from issues around accuracy and plagiarism to maintaining integrity.

Both teachers and students are using the new technology. A report by strategy consultant firm Tyton Partners, sponsored by plagiarism detection platform Turnitin, found half of college students used AI tools in Fall 2023. Meanwhile, while fewer faculty members used AI, the percentage grew to 22% of faculty members in the fall of 2023, up from 9% in spring 2023.

Teachers are turning to AI tools and platforms — such as ChatGPT, Writable, Grammarly and EssayGrader — to assist with grading papers, writing feedback, developing lesson plans and creating assignments. They’re also using the burgeoning tools to create quizzes, polls, videos and interactives to up the ante” for what’s expected in the classroom.

Students, on the other hand, are leaning on tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot — which is built into Word, PowerPoint and other products.

But while some schools have formed policies on how students can or can’t use AI for schoolwork, many do not have guidelines for teachers. The practice of using AI for writing feedback or grading assignments also raises ethical considerations. And parents and students who are already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on tuition may wonder if an endless feedback loop of AI-generated and AI-graded content in college is worth the time and money.

“If teachers use it solely to grade, and the students are using it solely to produce a final product, it’s not going to work,” said Gayeski.

The time and place for AI

How teachers use AI depends on many factors, particularly when it comes to grading, according to Dorothy Leidner, a professor of business ethics at the University of Virginia. If the material being tested in a large class is largely declarative knowledge — so there is a clear right and wrong — then a teacher grading using the AI “might be even superior to human grading,” she told CNN.

AI would allow teachers to grade papers faster and more consistently and avoid fatigue or boredoms, she said.

But Leidner noted when it comes to smaller classes or assignments with less definitive answers, grading should remain personalized so teachers can provide more specific feedback and get to know a student’s work, and, therefore, progress over time.

“A teacher should be responsible for grading but can give some responsibility to the AI,” she said.

She suggested teachers use AI to look at certain metrics — such as structure, language use and grammar — and give a numerical score on those figures. But teachers should then grade students’ work themselves when looking for novelty, creativity and depth of insight.

Leslie Layne, who has been teaching ChatGPT best practices in her writing workshop at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, said she sees the advantages for teachers but also sees drawbacks.

“Using feedback that is not truly from me seems like it is shortchanging that relationship a little,” she said.

She also sees uploading a student’s work to ChatGPT as a “huge ethical consideration” and potentially a breach of their intellectual property. AI tools like ChatGPT use such entries to train their algorithms on everything from patterns of speech to how to make sentences to facts and figures.

Ethics professor Leidner agreed, saying this should particularly be avoided for doctoral dissertations and master’s theses because the student might hope to publish the work.

“It would not be right to upload the material into the AI without making the students aware of this in advance,” she said. “And maybe students should need to provide consent.”

Some teachers are leaning on software called Writable that uses ChatGPT to help grade papers but is “tokenized,” so essays do not include any personal information, and it’s not shared directly with the system.

Teachers upload essays to the platform, which was recently acquired by education company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which then provides suggested feedback for students.

Other educators are using platforms such as  Turnitin  that boast plagiarism detection tools to help teachers identify when assignments are written by ChatGPT and other AI. But these types of detection tools are far from foolproof; OpenAI shut down its own AI-detection tool last year due to what the company called a “low rate of accuracy.”

Setting standards

Some schools are actively working on policies for both teachers and students. Alan Reid, a research associate in the Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University, said he recently spent time working with K-12 educators who use GPT tools to create end-of-quarter personalized comments on report cards.

But like Layne, he acknowledged the technology’s ability to write insightful feedback remains “limited.”

He currently sits on a committee at his college that’s authoring an AI policy for faculty and staff; discussions are ongoing, not just for how teachers use AI in the classroom but how it’s used by educators in general.

He acknowledges schools are having conversations about using generative AI tools to create things like promotion and tenure files, performance reviews, and job postings.”

Nicolas Frank, an associate professor of philosophy at University of Lynchburg, said universities and professors need to be on the same page when it comes to policies but need to stay cautious .

“There is a lot of danger in making policies about AI at this stage,” he said.

He worries it’s still too early to understand how AI will be integrated into everyday life. He is also concerned that some administrators who don’t teach in classrooms may craft policy that misses nuances of instruction.

“That may create a danger of oversimplifying the problems with AI use in grading and instruction,” he said. “Oversimplification is how bad policy is made.”

To start, he said educators can identify clear abuses of AI and begin policy-making around those.

Leidner, meanwhile, said universities can be very high level with their guidance, such as making transparency a priority — so students have a right to know when AI is being used to grade their work — and identifying what types of information should never be uploaded into an AI or asked of an AI.

But she said universities must also be open to “regularly reevaluating as the technology and uses evolve.”

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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