3rd Grade Summaries Theme 1
The Lost and Found
Summary 1:
One day at school, Wendell and Floyd were waiting outside the principal’s
office. They were in trouble because they had missed a math test. They said that a
giant squid had trapped them in the bathroom. The boys thought they had no luck.
Mona Tudburn came to the office to look in the Lost and Found bin. She had
her lucky hat. Mona fell in the bin and seemed to disappear! The boys decided to
climb in after her.
Wendell and Floyd fell past lost toys and clothing. Mona was at the bottom.
A sign pointed to the Hat Room. Floyd was worried that they would get lost.
In the Hat Room, they boys picked out lucky hats. Mona found her hat. It
had been in her purse the whole time.
The children didn’t know how to get back. They were lost in the Lost and
Found! There were doors in all directions. Mona closed her eyes and pointed. The
children went the way Mona picked.
After a long trip, the children got back to the office. Mona waited for her
new friends while they talked to the principal. Then they all put on their lucky hats.
The friends felt lucky together.
Poem: Who Works at School?
The principal of the school says, “Welcome to school.
Welcome to school. Welcome to school.”
The principal of the school says, “Welcome to school.”
All around the school!
The teacher each day says, “Get out your books.
Bet out your books. Get out your books.”
The teacher each day says, “Get out your books.”
All around the school!
Summary 2:
One day, Wendell and Floyd were waiting to talk to the principal. They had
not taken a math test, and they were in trouble. They had told the teacher that a
giant squid had trapped them in the bathroom.
Mona also came to the principal’s office. She looked in the Lost and Found
bin for her lucky hat. Suddenly, she fell into the bin. She seemed to disappear!
Wendell and Floyd fell to the bottom. They found Mona at the bottom of the bin.
They saw a sign that pointed to the Hat Room.
The two boys found lucky hats in the Hat Room. Mona found her hat. It was
in her purse and not in the Hat Room. The children were now lost in the Lost and
Found. They didn’t know how to get out.
Mona closed her eyes and pointed. Then the three children went the way
Mona pointed.
They finally got back to the principal’s office. The boys talked to the
principal. Mona had new friends and her lucky hat. They all felt very lucky.
The Ballad of Mulan
Summary 1:
A long time ago in China, there was a young woman named Mulan. She was
upset because her father had been called to fight in a war. Mulan wanted to fight in
her father’s place.
Women were not allowed to be soldiers. So Mulan dressed like a man. She
put on armor. She said a sad farewell to her family. Then she rode off with the
troops.
It was hard to work to be a soldier. Mulan missed her mother and her father.
But it made Mulan happy to think that her father was safe.
Many soldiers died in the war. Mulan fought bravely. After ten years, the
Emperor called Mulan to the palace. He wanted to reward Mulan’s skill and
leadership. Mulan asked the Emperor for a fast camel to take her home.
Mulan was happy to be back home. She changed out of her armor and into a
dress. When the other soldiers came to see her, they were surprised. They had not
known Mulan was a woman.
Today people still tell the story of Mulan’s love for her family and her
bravery in war.
Poem: A Marching Chant
Hup, 2, 3, 4.
Soldiers marching out the door!
5, 6, 7, 8.
Put on helmets. Don’t be late.
Hup 2, 3, 4.
Lace up boots. Get ready for more.
5, 6, 7, 8.
Salute the general while you wait.
Summary 2:
A young woman named Mulan lived a long time ago in China. She was sad
because her father had to fight in a war. She wanted to go to war instead of her
father.
Woman could not be soldiers, so Mulan dressed as a man. She left her
family and rode away with the soldiers. She worked very hard as a soldier. She was
lonely for her family, but she was happy that her father was safe.
Mulan fought bravely. Many soldiers died. After ten years, Mulan went to
the Emperor’s palace to get a reward. Mulan asked for a camel so that she could go
home.
When Mulan got home, she changed into a dress. When the soldiers came to
see her, they were surprised. They had not known that Mulan was a woman.
Now people tell the story of Mulan, who loved her family and fought
bravely in war.
The Waterfall
Summary 1:
My family went backpacking in July. We set up camp by a pool of water
with rocks and boulders around it. My brother and I went swimming.
We hiked along a creek. We heard a roaring sound. It was a huge waterfall. I
wanted to climb it, but Dad said no.
That night, I couldn’t stop thinking about the waterfall. When I went to
sleep, I heard a growl. I was a little scared.
The next morning we found the tracks of a mountain lion. It made me feel
excited, like when I had seen the waterfall. This time, Dad said we could climb the
waterfall.
We hiked to the waterfall again. I scouted a safe path to climb. My brother
and I stepped on ledges and put our fingers in cracks. We pulled ourselves up and
up until…we reached the top! I was so happy that I did a dance.
My parents climbed up too. Then we all hiked some more. I found a big
piece of driftwood. It looked like a person dancing. I took it home with me. Now it
is in our yard. When I look at it, I think of the waterfall. I feel excited like I did that
day.
Poem: Outdoor Fun
Lion’s going climbing.
What sights he’ll see!
Kim’s going hiking.
Watch out for that tree!
Juan’s going swimming
In the deep blue sea.
Everyone’s going biking.
Don’t forget me!
Summary 2:
A family went backpacking for a July vacation. The mother, father, and their
two sons made their camp near a pool. The two boys went swimming in the pool.
Then the family hiked along a creek. They heard the roaring sound of a
waterfall. The boy’s father said they could not climb the waterfall. During the
night, he heard a growl, and he was afraid.
In the morning they saw the tracks of a mountain lion. The boys were really
excited. Then their father said that they could climb the waterfall.
They hiked to the waterfall. They found a safe path and climbed to the top.
One of the boys did dance there because he was so happy.
Then the parents climbed up, and the family continued hiking. One of the
boys found a piece of wood that looked like someone dancing. He took the wood
home and put it in the yard. When he looks at the wood, he thinks of the waterfall.
He feels excited the way he did when he climbed the waterfall.