English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Abbreviate state names
Abbreviate state names
What you'll learn
- Identify and list the correct abbreviations for at least 8 out of 10 common state names on a worksheet.
- Apply the rules of abbreviation to correctly shorten 5 unfamiliar state names given on a quiz.
- Explain why abbreviations are used for state names in written addresses.
- Correctly write the full state name and its abbreviation for all states in the student's home address.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the author's purpose (to persuade, inform, or entertain) for using a state abbreviation in a text.
Define the term 'abbreviation' and explain why it is used.
Correctly write the official two-letter postal abbreviation for at least 10 common states.
Apply the rule of using two capital letters and no period for all state abbreviations.
Correctly punctuate a sentence containing a city and a state abbreviation, using a comma.
Explain why an author might choose an abbreviation over a full state name to achieve their purpose.
Have you ever received a postcard and seen two big letters next to the city name, like 'Orlando, FL'? 📬 Let's become detectives and figure out what those secret codes mean and why authors use them!...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
AbbreviationA short and simple way to write a longer word. Writers use them to save space and time.Using 'Dr.' is a short way to write the word 'Doctor'.
State AbbreviationA special two-letter code for each of the 50 states. These are used most often in addresses.The abbreviation for California is 'CA'. The abbreviation for New York is 'NY'.
Capital LettersThe 'big' letters we use at the beginning of sentences and for important names. State abbreviations are always written with two capital letters.We write 'TX' for Texas, not 'tx' or 'Tx'.
Author's PurposeThe main reason an author decides to write something. The three main purposes are to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain (you can remem...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The Two Big Letters Rule
State abbreviations are always two capital letters.
When you write the two-letter code for a state, both letters must be uppercase. This makes them easy to spot and shows they are important place names.
The No Period Rule
Official U.S. Postal Service abbreviations do not have a period at the end.
Even though other abbreviations like 'Mr.' or 'St.' use a period, the official two-letter state abbreviations do not. Just write the two capital letters.
The Comma Rule
In a sentence, place a comma between the name of the city and the state abbreviation.
This comma separates the two parts of the location, making it easier to read. For example: 'We are traveling to Denver, CO, for vacation.'
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Challenging
An author writing a story set in the year 1850 has a character mail a letter to "Philadelphia, Penn." Why would the author purposefully use the old abbreviation "Penn." instead of the modern "PA"?
A.To show the author made a mistake about the correct abbreviation
B.To make the story feel authentic and historically accurate for the 1850s
C.To suggest the character is not very smart and uses the wrong abbreviation
D.To save space on the page, because 'Penn.' is shorter than 'PA'
Challenging
An author is writing a funny poem for 3rd graders about a cat who mails himself to his cousin. One line says: 'From sunny Miami, FL, to snowy Buffalo, NY!' Which statement BEST explains the author's purpose for using these abbreviations?
A.The author's purpose is to inform readers about the weather in different cities.
B.The author's purpose is to persuade readers to mail their own pets.
C.The author's purpose is to entertain by using real, specific places to make the silly story more vivid and fun.
D.The author's purpose is to check if the reader can decode the abbreviations for Florida and New York.
Challenging
In a mystery story, a detective finds a torn piece of paper with '...em, OR' written on it. How does using a partial state abbreviation help the author's purpose?
A.It informs the reader about all the cities in Oregon.
B.It creates suspense and a clue for the detective and reader to solve.
C.It persuades the reader to visit Oregon.
D.It entertains the reader by telling a complete and funny joke.
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What grade level is "Abbreviate state names"?
Abbreviate state names is a Grade 3 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Abbreviate state names?
You'll be able to: Identify and list the correct abbreviations for at least 8 out of 10 common state names on a worksheet; Apply the rules of abbreviation to correctly shorten 5 unfamiliar state names given on a quiz; Explain why abbreviations are….
Is "Abbreviate state names" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Abbreviate state names?
This lesson includes 46 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.