These worksheets contain spelling activities for your 3rd grade students. They are aimed to help students learn to spell more fluidly and meet up with new vocabulary terms that are 3rd grade level appropriate. Activities include answering short questions with words from a word bank, unscrambling spelling words, filling out crossword puzzles, matching words to their definitions, dividing spelling words into groups by number of syllables, completing word shape boxes using given words, finding spelling words in a word search puzzle, completing spelling words using definition clues, using given spelling words in a sentence, and more. The 3rd grade is the age to learn words that are new and not often used at home with younger children. Children that have siblings usually have a bit of a jump at this.
Printable 3rd Grade Spelling Worksheets
Click the buttons to print each worksheet and answer key.
Lesson One Grade Three Spelling Worksheet
Using the words between the two stars** and more of your own words, write a spooky paragraph. We focus extensively on vocabulary that starts with the letter "k".
Spelling Practice
Circle the word that is correct. There will be three nonsense words and one correct one.
Spiral Spelling
Some solid clues here. This is super fun. Think of it as crossword that works in a spiral rather than across and down.
3rd Grade Cryptogram
Unscramble the words and put them in the boxes above, then use the circled letters to figure out the message at the bottom.
3rd Grade Spelling Rules
There is a general rule that is "i before e except after e" but there are many exceptions to that rule. Fill in the chart below according to the headings, but keep that rule in the back of your mind.
Spelling Suffixes
These are endings of words to change the root word and the meaning. Change the root word to make sense in the following sentences.
Fill in the Letters
Practice each word six times over. This is a great activity, if you put the time in on it.
3rd Grade Spelling Crossword
Determine the spelling word by using the definition. These are grade level appropriate terms for you to work on.
"ke" Search
All of these words have a vowel or vowel blend before the k and some have an e following the k. Whichever way it is spelled, what happens to the vowel? Is it long or short?
Secret Decoder
Decode all your spelling words by using the key. This is also a great following directions activity worksheet for students.
Circle a Word Find
Use your spelling list to find the words! This is a circular matrix for a word find activity which students will find cool.
Ii Writing Practice Sheet
You will notice slight font differences for your enhanced learning opportunity.
Lesson Six Words
We focus on the use of these terms in context: About, better, bring, carry, done, drink, fail, full, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, keep, kind, laugh, fight, myself, maybe, never, own, shall, small, start, today, together, try, and warm.
Standard Word Search
Where are those words in the word search. We use the standard format here and do not get too fancy.
Fallen Words Puzzle
Unscramble the letters to create a word you can buy into. Then take those circles and make your phrase.
More Words Win
Write a short story or a journal passage using as many of your 3rd grade vocabulary words as possible. You can make this into a class contest.
How to Learn to Spell Better
The 3rd grade is where students start really gobbling up new vocabulary words and learning how to spell them. Most students develop at this grade level to have the mental capacity to learn twice as many words then they did in 2nd grade. Teachers should take advantage of this by using a consistent and regular spelling program. I really encourage teachers to build a spelling word routine. Do this over the course of the week. On every Monday students get a new list of vocabulary words that are to be able to spell, define, and use in a sentence by Friday. My advanced classes are on their own to do this. With my regular pace 3rd grade classes I have an activity for them to complete in class or as homework that has them explore the word list.
Spelling in English is relatively tricky for both native speakers and foreign language learners. There are many different ways to spell and pronounce the same sound in English since the language was formed from various languages. It is easy to include new words from other languages into its vocabulary. However, enhancing your English spelling can be quite a task. How to learn to spell better, you ask? Let's find out!
The following are some effective ways to learn to spell better:
1. Read Extensively
As a general rule, reading is the greatest approach to learning new words and their correct spelling. If you stumble upon a word that seems unfamiliar, try to figure out its meaning and learn its spelling by heart. Being able to spell correctly can help you improve your reading comprehension skills. Spelling has a lot more to do with the structure of the reading brain than we give it credit for.
2. Learn Simple Rules
Knowing the rules can be a great approach to learning new things. Start with a few simple ones. You can add further rules based on your knowledge of new terms. You'll be able to spell most words before you know it. Some of the basic rules are as follows:
- I comes before e unless after c. Believe (with an I before an e) is spelled differently than "receive." I and e are generally used to spell out long vowels. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
- Suffixes ending in -able, -ible, -ous, etc., should not be added to nouns that end in a silent e. You can see why a word like "response" has an E while "responsible" does not. However, you can keep the last e to preserve the particular soft pronunciation of consonants like bravery.
- Add suffixes to words ending in y by changing the y to I. "Happily" and "bodily" are a couple of examples that stand true to this statement.
- If there is only one vowel before the final consonant, double the last consonant of a word when adding suffixes. You can consider "bar" that goes on to become "barred." If there is more than one vowel before the final consonant, the final consonant is not doubled. For instance, "bail" goes on to become "bailed."
3. Make a List of Terms That You Have Difficulty Spelling
You might already be familiar with the most prevalent misspellings. Consider making a list of all the words you find difficult to spell instead of studying one created by someone else. Make sure you know how to spell the words using mnemonics. Remember that some word groups may be complex for you to comprehend; plan accordingly.
4. Test Your Knowledge
One of the most effective methods of acquiring a new skill, such as spelling or anything else, is self-testing. Test yourself on some challenging words you regularly encounter that are hard to spell. Spend 15 minutes a day honing your skills. You can work on different exercises, such as brainstorming a list of words you have difficulties spelling, researching the words, and practicing them aloud to improve your spelling skills.
5. Break Down the Word
Some words might be difficult to spell because of their length. You can break down such words to make them easier to spell. Instead of learning a single large word, you'll only need to remember a few little ones. For instance, invisible can be divided into three little words: in vis ible. Keep these short words in mind, and you'll be able to spell invisible every time accurately. Use this technique with any word you have difficulty spelling—it will help you remember it!
Final Words
These are the most common spelling tactics employed by excellent spellers to learn to spell better. Use these tactics with your child if they are having difficulty spelling.