A book square is a simple and fun craft that doubles as a game on story sequencing. Cut a square out of a piece of construction paper and have students fold each corner towards the center of the square. Print numbers 1-4 on each flap and then open each flap and write the title of a book, along with the main idea of the story. Have the children read, and then stop four times at points in the story where they feel one idea has been told. Each time they stop, they write the main idea of what they just read under the appropriately numbered flap until the story is complete.
Many children love performing, and Reading Theater is a way for them to act out their favorite stories while learning reading comprehension. In Reading Theater, students can read the stories aloud together like a chorus, or each student can be assigned a role, paragraph or chapter to read in front of the class. Some teachers create their own plays based on popular stories and turn the game into a true theater experience, complete with costumes and props.
Third-graders are able to distinguish between the literal and the figurative, so it is the perfect time to teach idioms -- phrases that mean something other than what they say. Clay idiom crafts can be done to reinforce a lesson after the students have learned a list of idioms. Students brainstorm in groups and write out all the idioms they remember. They then mold modeling clay to demonstrate the literal meaning of the idiom. Examples are, "Don't let the cat out of the bag" and "When pigs fly." Students then think of how the idiom they chose to model is used in everyday life and language.
Breakfast time can become an at-home reading lesson for a third-grader with the help of a cereal box. The entire family can participate in this activity, with one or more people reading words or phrases printed on a cereal box and someone else writing the words down. Once all the words are collected, players can tell stories using these words. For more fun, words on milk and juice containers can be used as well.