Adventure Evidence Teacher Guide
Grade 3 ELA Comprehensive Curriculum Map
Adventure, Evidence & Storytelling
4 Weeks • 20 Days
Core Text: Dinosaurs Before Dark
Anchor Author
Mary Pope Osborne
Focus Subjects
Reading, Writing & L/G
Literacy Framework
MA Curriculum Framework
Culminating Task
Original Adventure Tale
Unit Essential Question
How do readers use evidence from a story to understand characters, events, and ideas, and how can writers use those same skills to create effective writing?
• How do readers determine what is important in a story?
• How do authors use dialogue & strong verbs?
• How do characters' choices drive sequence & events?
• How does nonfiction strengthen imaginative writing?
Core Learning Targets
Reading (RL & RI)
- Identify key details and cite explicit text evidence (RL.3.1).
- Analyze character traits, feelings, and motivations (RL.3.3).
- Map plot sequence, problem, and resolution (RL.3.5).
- Synthesize fictional narrative with dinosaur facts (RI.3.1-2).
Writing (W.3)
- Write vivid character snapshot paragraphs.
- Construct structured informational dinosaur fact files.
- Incorporate correctly punctuated character dialogue.
- Compose and revise an original multi-event narrative.
Language & Grammar (L.3)
- Distinguish nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
- Apply regular and irregular past-tense verb forms.
- Combine ideas using coordinating conjunctions.
- Master quotation marks, commas, and CUPS editing.
Tiered Vocabulary Framework
Literary Terms
character setting conflict evidence motivation dialogue
Paleontology Domain
paleontologist herbivore carnivore fossilized predator prehistoric
Academic Thinking
determine summarize sequence infer cause & effect explain
Dinosaurs Before Dark • Grade 3 ELA Unit Plan Section 1: Unit Foundations • Page 1
Standards Crosswalk & Grammar Scope
MA Curriculum Framework
Reading Literature (RL.3) Priority
RL.3.1: Explicit text evidence for questions.
RL.3.2: Retell stories, identify central lesson.
RL.3.3: Character traits, feelings & actions.
RL.3.5: Structural elements & story plot build.
RL.3.7: How illustrations contribute to text.
Reading Informational (RI.3) Paired Texts
RI.3.1: Ask & answer questions using nonfiction.
RI.3.2: Determine main ideas & key details.
RI.3.3: Sequence & scientific cause-effect.
RI.3.4: Domain-specific dinosaur vocabulary.
RI.3.5: Nonfiction text features (labels/headings).
Writing Focus (W.3) Core Modes
W.3.2: Informative texts on dinosaur species.
W.3.3: Narratives with dialogue, sequence & closure.
W.3.5: Guided planning, drafting, revision & CUPS.
W.3.8: Note-taking from nonfiction passages.
Language & Speaking (L.3 & SL.3) Conventions
L.3.1: Parts of speech, regular/irregular verbs.
L.3.2: Dialogue punctuation, capitalization, possessives.
SL.3.1: Collaborative peer discussions.
SL.3.6: Speaking in complete, descriptive sentences.
Grammar Scope & Sequence: Authentic Application
| Week | Grammar Target Skill | Authentic Writing Application |
|---|
| Week 1 | Complete sentences; nouns & verbs; past-tense forms | Drafting Jack & Annie character snapshot paragraphs |
| Week 2 | Adjectives, adverbs, coordinating conjunctions | Describing prehistoric settings and dinosaur attributes |
| Week 3 | Dialogue punctuation, quotation marks, possessives | Writing character conversations during dinosaur encounters |
| Week 4 | Sentence combining; CUPS editing conventions | Polishing final published Magic Tree House adventure stories |
Daily 60-Minute Literacy Block Structure
5 MIN Vocab Review Tier 2/3 Preview
10 MIN Grammar Mini Skill modeling
15 MIN Shared Read Core text chapter
10 MIN Discussion Evidence protocol
15 MIN Application Writing response
5 MIN Exit Ticket Formative check
Dinosaurs Before Dark • Grade 3 ELA Unit Plan Section 2: Standards & Pacing • Page 2
4-Week Instructional Pacing Guide (Days 1–20)
Daily Lesson Trajectory
WEEK 1
Entering the Magic Tree House • Character & Evidence
Days 1–5
Day 1: Launch
Intro characters & setting. Nouns & verbs ID. Write character snapshot.
Day 2: Traits
Trait + evidence chart. Sentence frames: "Jack is... because..."
Day 3: Setting
Woods sensory details. Regular & irregular past tense verbs.
Day 4: Predict
Prediction → Evidence → Reasoning. Past-tense verb sorting.
Day 5: Check 1
Constructed response + 2 text details. Paragraph formative review.
WEEK 2
Dinosaurs & Story Structure • Informative Writing
Days 6–10
Day 6: Mountain
Sequence story arc. Enhance sentences with descriptive adjectives.
Day 7: Actions
Choices & consequences. Add adverbs (carefully, suddenly).
Day 8: Nonfiction
Paired text (RI.3.1). Build Dinosaur Fact Files with domain vocab.
Day 9: Paragraph
Topic → details → closing. Conjunctions (and, but, so, because).
Day 10: Check 2
Retell story arc so far. Dinosaur informational writing collection.
WEEK 3
Writing Like an Author • Dialogue & Narrative Craft
Days 11–15
Day 11: Dialogue
Quotation marks, commas & speaker tags. Draft 4-line conversation.
Day 12: Scene
Write dinosaur encounter scene with dialogue, action & feeling.
Day 13: Strong Verbs
Dinosaur Verb Bank (lumbered, charged, sprinted). Revise weak verbs.
Day 14: Motivation
Action → Motivation → Result. Add inner thoughts & motivations.
Day 15: Plan
Magic Tree House adventure outline: setting, problem, 3 events, solution.
WEEK 4
Draft, Revise, Edit & Publish • Final Narrative Project
Days 16–20
Day 16: Drafting
Full narrative draft: setting, 3 events, dialogue, temporal words.
Day 17: Revision
Revise for ideas, organization, sensory details, and vivid verbs.
Day 18: CUPS Edit
Check Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling with checklist.
Day 19: Publishing
Final anthology page: title, illustration, neat narrative text.
Day 20: Celebrate
Summative reading check, grammar edit quiz, partner author share.
Dinosaurs Before Dark • Grade 3 ELA Unit Plan Section 3: Daily Instructional Arc • Page 3
Assessment System, Rubric & Differentiation
Evaluation & Access
Daily Reading Response Routine (RL.3.1)
1. READ 2. THINK 3. EVIDENCE 4. EXPLAIN
• "My answer is [claim]."
• "I know this because the text says/shows [quote/detail]."
• "This evidence proves that [reasoning]."
Summative Weighting Breakdown
Narrative Writing Project (Original Adventure) 30%
Reading Comprehension & Text Evidence 25%
Grammar, Usage & Editing Conventions 20%
Informative Writing (Dinosaur Fact File) 15%
Speaking & Listening (Peer Share & Discussion) 10%
Culminating Narrative Performance Rubric (W.3.3 / L.3)
| Trait | 4 • Strong | 3 • Proficient | 2 • Developing | 1 • Beginning |
|---|
| Organization | Logical, seamless event sequence with clear closure. | Mostly logical sequence with basic beginning and end. | Some event jumps; confusing transitions. | Disorganized; events difficult to follow. |
| Characters | Vivid traits, motivations, thoughts and sensory reactions. | Clear character traits and observable actions. | Few character details or reactions shown. | Characters undeveloped; lack traits. |
| Dialogue | Natural, advances plot; quotation marks & commas accurate. | Meaningful dialogue; mostly accurate punctuation. | Dialogue present but contains punctuation errors. | Little or no dialogue included. |
| Conventions | Consistently correct capitalization, verbs, and spelling. | Minor errors that do not impede comprehension. | Frequent errors in verb tense and punctuation. | Pervasive errors interfere with meaning. |
Multi-Tiered Differentiation & Access Strategies
Students Needing Support
- Chunked text chapters & audio read-alouds.
- Visual story maps & sentence starters.
- Character trait word banks with icons.
- Structured partner reading pairs.
Multilingual Learners
- Illustrated bilingual vocabulary cards.
- Oral rehearsal before written drafting.
- Visual sketch-to-write planning frames.
- Cognate charts for academic terms.
Advanced / Enrichment
- Compare Jack vs. Annie leadership styles.
- Research obscure Cretaceous species.
- Write a scene from the dinosaur's POV.
- Analyze how chapter illustrations enhance mood.
Dinosaurs Before Dark • Grade 3 ELA Unit Plan Section 4: Rubrics & Accommodations • Page 4