Scope & Sequence
Grade 3
Unit 1: Categorizing
Organize information by
• analyzing the attributes of a group of items
• labeling a category by the common attribute of its members
• using categories to figure out word meanings
• relating attributes to more than one category
• charting multiple attributes within their appropriate categories
• relating common attributes as a long-term memory device
Unit 2: Analyzing Sequence in Stories
Derive logical meaning by
• analyzing the periods of time we use to order our lives
• investigating the clue words of chronology
• inferring the missing part of a sequence
• using logic to sequence a story
• using a four-part strategy to combine clues and logic
• rearranging story parts in logical sequence
• taking notes on a time line
Unit 3: Predicting Outcomes
Infer story outcomes by
• interpreting clues that signal logical connections
• combining an author’s clues with personal experience of similar events
• proposing and evaluating several possible story outcomes
• using logical patterns, story structure, and author’s purpose to make predictions
Unit 4: Identifying Topic Sentences
Identify the topic sentence of a paragraph by
• relating category labels to topic sentences
• conceptualizing the relationship among ideas in a paragraph as a main idea with supporting details
• identifying the topic sentence and the detail sentences in a simple paragraph
• locating topic sentences in the beginning, middle, or end of paragraphs
• writing a paragraph with a topic sentence
• using a topic sentence to comprehend an author’s purpose and a paragraph’s main idea
Unit 5: Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion
Distinguish between fact and opinion by
• determining if statements are “true for everyone” or “true for some”
• using clue words to distinguish fact from opinion
• converting a factual statement to an opinion statement by adding an opinion word
• separating fact from opinion statements
Unit 6: Using Context Clues
Use context clues to determine the meaning of an unknown word by
• using familiar words in a category as clues
• analyzing the range of meaning represented in synonyms and antonyms as clues
• combining relational clues (words that form a mental image)
• using comparative information in similes as clues
Unit 7: Understanding Cause and Effect
Establish a cause-and-effect relationship by
• noting the causal link between two related events
• identifying clue words that signal causal relationships
• locating causal connections without clue words
Unit 8: Comparing and Contrasting
Identify similarities and differences by
• comparing two objects displaying similar and different characteristics
• charting physical and behavioral traits of two characters for comparison
• charting comparative information in two separate stories
• using the comparison chart to infer underlying similarities of purpose and meaning in the stories
