These academic vocabulary words for third graders are used often, across all subjects, from language arts and history to math and science. Third graders who have a better vocabulary can better understand what they read and hear. And, when your child knows these words well enough to use them, it will add precision and nuance to your child’s writing and presentations.
Print this list of age-appropriate academic vocabulary words, courtesy of Hyde Park Central School District, and post it on your kitchen fridge where you and your child will see it every day. Try to use these words in everyday conversation with your third grader. Hearing new words in context is one of the best ways for kids to learn and remember new words.
| additional | event | region |
| agreeable | examine | repair |
| argue | example | ridiculous |
| arrange | experience | scar |
| assist | fatal | scatter |
| attract | flexible | shiver |
| careless | furious | signal |
| cause | gathered | similar |
| climate | gist | slumber |
| coast | infer | solution |
| compare | intelligent | starve |
| construct | invitation | stumble |
| continent | irritate | tackle |
| contrast | marine | tentacle |
| credit | mend | typical |
| culture | multiply | unite |
| dangle | nervous | unusual |
| defend | occur | valuable |
| describe | opposite | vehicle |
| details | passage | volunteer |
| develop | patient | diagram |
| peer | disappointed | persuade |
| division | pleasant | effect |
| prank | elect | predict |
| purpose | endangered | recognize |
See the academic vocabulary lists for 4th grade and 5th grade, too.
Check out our weekly third grade spelling lists. The first week’s list begins with words that are easy to misspell because just one letter is added or moved.
