Reading Lesson Plan Grade 3: Novel Study and Response Writing

This free reading lesson plan helps Grade 2 and Grade 3 students become confident readers by working through a complete class novel. Students practice predicting, summarizing, discussing, and writing responses while learning how stories are structured and how authors develop characters and problems.

Overview

Students read a chapter book across several class periods while practicing essential reading behaviors. The lesson focuses on comprehension strategies such as prediction, sequencing, identifying story elements, and supporting ideas with evidence from the text. Students maintain a daily reading journal and complete a final writing task that changes or extends the story.

Subject Connections

This reading lesson works primarily as an English Language Arts activity, but it also supports writing instruction through narrative and explanatory responses. Teachers can connect the story to social studies by discussing settings, travel, or geography within the story world. Science connections can be made when students research animals, habitats, or natural environments described in the text. Art lessons may include illustrating scenes or designing book covers.

Learning Goals

• Make predictions before and during reading
• Retell key events in sequence
• Identify characters, setting, problem, and solution
• Support ideas using details from the text
• Write a clear narrative response based on the story

Materials

• Class novel (teacher-chosen chapter book appropriate for Grades 2–3)
• Student reading journals or notebooks
• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Pencils and crayons or colored pencils
• Graphic organizer sheets
• Optional digital writing device or classroom computer

Preparation

• Select a chapter book with clear characters and plot
• Divide the book into daily reading sections
• Prepare prediction, summary, and story map organizers
• Create a class anchor chart for story elements

Teaching Procedure

Each session fits a standard class period of 40–50 minutes. The novel reading spans approximately 8–10 instructional days.

Session 1 – Introducing the Story

1. The teacher displays the book cover and reads the title and back description. Students discuss what they think the story will be about and share ideas aloud.
2. Activity: The teacher tells students, “Use the cover and title to predict what will happen in the story.” Materials: book cover, paper, pencils. Students draw and write one prediction, then share their prediction with a partner and explain their thinking to the class.
3. The teacher reads the first chapter aloud while students follow along and listen for main characters.
4. Students record the characters they met in their reading journals.

Session 2 – Prediction and Evidence

1. The teacher reviews the previous chapter and asks students to recall important events.
2. The class reads the next chapter together through shared or partner reading.
3. Activity: The teacher says, “Write what you think will happen next and explain why.” Materials: journals and pencils. Students write a short prediction and underline a sentence in the story that supports their idea.
4. Students share predictions and compare similarities.

Session 3 – Story Elements

1. The teacher models identifying setting, characters, and problem on a class chart.
2. Students read the next section independently or in pairs.
3. Activity: The teacher says, “Complete the story map using details from the chapter.” Materials: story map organizer. Students fill in characters, setting, and events and explain one answer orally.
4. The class discusses whether the problem has changed or grown.

Session 4 – Sequencing Events

1. The teacher reviews how to place events in order.
2. Students reread key pages from the chapter.
3. Activity: The teacher says, “Arrange the events from the chapter in the correct order.” Materials: event cards or written sentences. Students physically place events in order and explain their reasoning.
4. Students write a brief summary of the chapter in their journals.

Session 5 – Writing a New Ending

1. The teacher explains that students will create a different ending for the story while keeping the main characters.
2. Students brainstorm ideas and plan their ending in a graphic organizer.
3. Activity: The teacher says, “Write your new ending using at least three events and a clear solution.” Materials: writing paper or computer. Students write a narrative ending and illustrate one important scene.
4. Students read their endings aloud to a partner or the class.

Assessment

• Journal predictions and summaries
• Participation in discussion
• Completed story map organizer
• Written alternate ending showing understanding of characters and plot

Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters for writing responses
• Allow partner reading for developing readers
• Offer audio reading support if needed
• Challenge advanced students to include dialogue in their new ending

Grade Adaptation

For Grade 2, read most chapters aloud and shorten written responses to drawings and labeled sentences. For Grade 3, increase independent reading and require paragraph summaries. For Grade 4, students can complete longer written responses, compare themes, and cite multiple pieces of evidence from the text.

Extension Ideas

• Create a class book display with student-written endings
• Design a new book cover showing the main conflict
• Research an animal or place mentioned in the story and present findings