CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.10

ELA3rd GradeRange of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

The Standard

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2—3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text

What This Standard Means

Students need to read grade 3 informational books, articles, diagrams, captions, timelines, and directions with growing independence. They should understand main ideas, key details, vocabulary, text features, and the author’s purpose well enough to explain what they learned without heavy teacher support.

Mastery looks like a student choosing a suitable nonfiction text, reading it steadily, using headings and visuals, and retelling the main points with evidence. Students often get stuck on domain words, dense sentences, and skipping over captions or charts. Some can find facts but miss how the ideas connect.

Ways to Teach It

  • Hands-on activity: Give pairs a short science article, sticky notes, and highlighters to mark headings, key details, captions, and one confusing word.
  • Writing prompt: After reading a history passage, write three sentences explaining the main idea and two facts that prove it.
  • Quick assessment: Hand students a one-page nonfiction text and ask them to answer one main idea question and one evidence question.
  • Real-world connection: Read a simple product manual or recipe together, then have students explain the steps and why order matters.

Before This Standard

If students are struggling here, check these first.

Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.10

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What This Unlocks

Mastery here sets students up for these next.

Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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