There's 'The Night Before Christmas'. It's a classic that kids love. It describes Santa's visit on Christmas Eve in a very vivid and exciting way. It helps 3rd graders get into the Christmas spirit with its rhyming and fun descriptions. Also, 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' is a great one. It shows how the Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the Whos but in the end, his heart grows and he realizes the true meaning of Christmas.
There are quite a few. 'The Little Match Girl' is a touching Christmas story. It shows the hardships a poor girl faces on a cold Christmas night. For 3rd graders, it can be a great way to understand different situations. 'Frosty the Snowman' is also a fun one. It has a simple plot about a snowman coming to life. Reading these stories can enhance 3rd graders' vocabulary and comprehension abilities during the Christmas season.
In 'The Elves and the Shoemaker', the shoemaker and the elves are the main characters. In 'The Legend of the Candy Cane', the people who first made the candy cane and those who discovered its meaning can be considered main characters.
There's 'The Tale of Despereaux'. It's about a small mouse named Despereaux who is very different from other mice. He loves reading and music and has a big adventure in a castle. 'Stuart Little' is also a well - loved story for 3rd and 4th graders. Stuart is a mouse who is born into a human family and has many interesting experiences like sailing a toy boat in a pond. 'Ramona Quimby, Age 8' is a great one too. Ramona is a spunky girl who gets into all kinds of everyday adventures at school and at home.
There is also 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. Goldilocks enters the house of the three bears while they are out. She tries their porridge, their chairs, and their beds. When the bears come back, they find her in the baby bear's bed. Goldilocks runs away. This story can teach children about respecting others' property.
One popular 3rd grade fiction story is 'Charlotte's Web'. It tells the heartwarming tale of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a spider named Charlotte who saves him from being slaughtered. Another is 'The Magic Tree House' series. These books follow the adventures of Jack and Annie as they travel through time and space using a magic tree house. 'Because of Winn - Dixie' is also great. It's about a girl named Opal who befriends a stray dog and how that friendship changes her life.
Well, 'The Little Match Girl' is a poignant Christmas story. It's about a poor little girl selling matches on a cold Christmas Eve. There's also 'The Elves and the Shoemaker'. The shoemaker is poor but then some elves come and help him make beautiful shoes at night. And 'The Legend of the Candy Cane' which explains the meaning behind the candy cane in relation to Christmas.
A 3rd grade Christmas story could have the kids making Christmas decorations for their classroom. They could make chains of paper loops or cut out shapes of stars and angels. And then they could write letters to Santa Claus, sharing their Christmas wishes. There might also be a story about sharing and kindness during Christmas time, like when the kids collect toys for the less fortunate.
One great 3rd grade reading short story is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. It teaches kids about the value of perseverance. Another is 'The Little Red Hen', which shows the importance of hard work. And 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' is also popular, as it's fun and can teach about respecting others' property.
One good 3rd grade reading online story is 'Because of Winn - Dixie'. It's about a girl and her dog, and how their friendship changes her life. The characters are very vivid and the story is quite touching. There are also many folktales available online for 3rd graders, like 'The Three Little Pigs'. It teaches kids about hard work and cleverness in a fun way.
The 'Magic Tree House' series is also suitable. It takes kids on different adventures through time and space. Each book has an exciting plot that can keep young readers engaged. The vocabulary used is just right for third graders learning to read more complex texts.