English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Abbreviate street names
Abbreviate street names
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the author's purpose for using abbreviations in addresses and on maps.
Define the term 'abbreviation' and explain why it is used.
Recognize common street name words like Street, Road, and Avenue.
Correctly write the abbreviations for at least five common street names (e.g., St., Rd., Ave., Ln., Dr.).
Apply the rules of abbreviation to rewrite a full address in its shortened form.
Explain that an author's choice to abbreviate is to inform clearly and save space.
Have you ever tried to write your address on a tiny postcard or a small label? 💌 It can be tricky to fit everything!
Today, we will learn how to make long street names shorter by using special words called abbreviations. We will also discover the author's purpose...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Author's PurposeThe reason an author decides to write something. For addresses, the purpose is usually to inform someone where a place is located in a clear and short way.An author writing an address on an envelope abbreviates 'Street' to 'St.' Their purpose is to make the address fit and be easy for the mail carrier to read.
AbbreviationA short way to write a long word. We use a period at the end to show it's a shortened word.The abbreviation for the word 'Street' is 'St.'
Street (St.)A public road in a city or town that usually has houses and buildings along one or both sides.Full name: 123 Oak Street. Abbreviated: 123 Oak St.
Road (Rd.)A wide path leading from one place to another, especially one with a specially p...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Abbreviation Rule
Shorten the street type word and add a period.
Only abbreviate the word that tells you the type of street (like Street, Road, Drive, Avenue). The unique name of the street (like 'Elm' or 'Main') always stays the same.
The Capitalization Rule
Always capitalize the first letter of an abbreviation for a street name.
Just like the full word is capitalized in an address, its abbreviation must also be capitalized. For example, 'street' becomes 'St.', not 'st.'
The Author's Purpose Rule
Abbreviate to save space and be clear.
Authors choose to abbreviate on envelopes, maps, and forms. Their purpose is to give information that is fast to read and fits in a small space. In a story book, an author migh...
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Challenging
An author is writing a story for a third-grade reader. The author wants to make sure the story is easy to read and not confusing. Which choice best helps the author achieve this purpose?
A.Using 'St.', 'Rd.', and 'Ave.' every time a street is mentioned.
B.Writing out 'Street', 'Road', and 'Avenue' the first time, then using abbreviations later.
C.Making up new abbreviations like 'Str.' for Street and 'Avn.' for Avenue.
D.Using a mix of full words and abbreviations randomly.
Challenging
An author's main purpose is to persuade a city council to preserve a historic neighborhood. In a speech, the author says, 'We must protect the families on Rose Petal Lane and the historic homes of Grandview Boulevard.' Why is using the full street names critical to this author's purpose?
A.It makes the speech sound more elegant and respectful, giving the places more importance.
B.It saves time, allowing the author to make more arguments.
C.It proves the author lives in the neighborhood.
D.It makes the speech sound casual and friendly, like talking to a neighbor.
Challenging
If an author's purpose is to create a sense of mystery and confusion for the reader, how might they use street name abbreviations?
A.By always writing out the full street name clearly.
B.By using common, standard abbreviations like 'St.' and 'Dr.'
C.By having a map in the book with every street name abbreviated correctly.
D.By using an unclear, strange, or non-standard abbreviation in a mysterious note.
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