CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1a

ELA3rd GradeConventions of Standard English

The Standard

Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify the job each target word performs in a sentence. They explain how words name people or things, replace names, show action or being, and add details.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students correctly label each target word in a sentence and explain what information it adds. They can show how changing or removing a word changes the sentence.
Common Misconceptions: Students may label a word by its usual meaning rather than its job in the sentence. They may confuse pronouns with nouns, adjectives with adverbs, or action verbs with linking verbs.
How to Assess It: Use the sentence, “She quickly carried the heavy box.” Ask students to label each key word and explain its job in the sentence.

Lesson moves

Give groups sentence strips to cut apart, label each word, and arrange under noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, or adverb headings.
Ask students to write one sentence, underline each target word, and explain the job of each underlined word.
Play Word Job Relay, where teams label highlighted words in sentences and earn a point for each accurate explanation.
Examine a lunch menu and identify words that name items, describe foods, show actions, replace names, or tell how actions happen.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Learning progression

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

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