The CBSE Class 3 English syllabus for the 2026-27 academic year is based on Santoor, the NCERT textbook introduced under NEP 2020 and NCF 2023. Class 3 is the year when children move from short sentences to reading full stories and poems with confidence, writing small paragraphs, and engaging in real conversations in English. The Santoor textbook is built around four themes that feel meaningful to eight and nine year old learners: friendship, toys and games, food, and the sky.
Parents searching for the Class 3 English syllabus usually want a clear view of the Santoor chapters, the grammar covered, and how much reading and writing is expected at this stage. This page brings together the full CBSE Class 3 English syllabus 2026-27 in one place, including all 12 chapters unit-wise, grammar topics, language skills, assessment pattern, and answers to common questions.
Santoor replaces the older Marigold Part 3 textbook and moves to an activity-led, thematic structure. Each chapter combines a prose story or poem with speaking, reading, writing, and creative activities. The book also includes a self-assessment section that encourages children to reflect on what they have learned, which is a genuine step up from Class 1 and Class 2.
CBSE Class 3 English Syllabus 2026-27: Quick Snapshot
Board: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Class: 3
Subject: English
Prescribed Textbook: Santoor (NCERT)
Curriculum Framework: NEP 2020 and NCF for Foundational Stage 2023
Medium: English
Academic Year: 2026-27
Total Units: 4
Total Chapters: 12
Assessment Style: Continuous, activity-based, no formal board exams
Unit-Wise CBSE Class 3 English Syllabus
CBSE Syllabus for Class 3 English is divided into four thematic units and 12 chapters that combine prose, poetry, and picture-based lessons. The table below shows the complete unit-wise Class 3 English syllabus for CBSE 2026-27.
| Unit | Theme | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Fun with Friends | Colours (Poem)Badal and MotiBest Friends |
| Unit 2 | Toys and Games | Out in the Garden (Poem)Talking ToysPaper Boats |
| Unit 3 | Good Food | The Big LaddooThank God (Poem)Madhu’s Wish |
| Unit 4 | The Sky | Night (Poem)Chanda Mama Counts the StarsChandrayaan |
Class 3 English Chapters Explained
Unit 1: Fun with Friends
The first unit eases children into Class 3 through the familiar theme of friendship, using colours, animal pairs, and classroom bonds.
- Colours: A cheerful poem about sharing crayons and the joy of colours, introducing colour vocabulary and the idea of sharing.
- Badal and Moti: A heartwarming story about the friendship between a cloud and an elephant, teaching loyalty and companionship.
- Best Friends: A chapter about the bond between classmates, introducing words for friendship, kindness, and cooperation.
Unit 2: Toys and Games
The second unit celebrates play, imagination, and the simple joys of childhood through gardens, toys, and paper boats.
- Out in the Garden: A poem that takes children outdoors, building vocabulary for nature, play, and the senses.
- Talking Toys: A magical chapter where toys come to life and have conversations, great for building imagination and dialogue skills.
- Paper Boats: A gentle story about Meena and her paper boats, touching on kindness and standing up for what is fair.
Unit 3: Good Food
The third unit explores food as a theme of family, gratitude, and aspiration.
- The Big Laddoo: A fun story based on the familiar tale of a giant laddoo that nobody can lift alone, introducing teamwork.
- Thank God: A poem that teaches gratitude and appreciation for the simple blessings of food, family, and daily life.
- Madhu’s Wish: A short story about a young girl named Madhu and her dreams, encouraging children to believe in their aspirations.
Unit 4: The Sky
The final unit looks upward to the night sky, the moon, and even India’s own space mission.
- Night: A soothing poem that paints the calmness and beauty of the night sky, introducing descriptive vocabulary.
- Chanda Mama Counts the Stars: A playful chapter where the moon counts stars and shares stories with children, blending imagination with language learning.
- Chandrayaan: A simple, inspiring introduction to India’s moon mission. Children learn about science, curiosity, and achievement, and this chapter connects English with current affairs.
Class 3 English Grammar Syllabus 2026-27
The Class 3 English grammar syllabus takes a real step forward from Class 2. Grammar is still introduced through stories and activities, but children are now expected to apply rules consistently in their writing. The table below covers the core grammar topics for CBSE Class 3 English 2026-27.
| Grammar Topic | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Nouns | Common and proper nouns, names of people, places, animals, and things with correct capitalisation. |
| Pronouns | Using I, you, he, she, it, we, and they correctly in sentences. |
| Verbs (Action Words) | Simple present tense verbs and introduction to past and future tense through examples. |
| Adjectives | Describing words for colour, size, shape, number, and feeling, used in simple sentences. |
| Articles | Using a, an, and the correctly based on the sound and specificity of nouns. |
| Singular and Plural | Forming plurals by adding s, es, or through irregular forms like child and children. |
| Prepositions | Position words like in, on, under, above, below, behind, beside, and between. |
| Conjunctions | Using and, but, and or to join short sentences into longer ones. |
| Sentence Types | Statements, questions, and exclamations with correct punctuation. |
| Opposites and Synonyms | Opposite word pairs and simple similar-meaning words from textbook vocabulary. |
| Punctuation | Capital letters, full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, and commas in lists. |
Language Skills Developed in Class 3 English
By Class 3, the four language skills start producing real fluency. Reading and writing become central, but speaking and listening continue to matter, especially for pronunciation and comprehension. The table below summarises what children will learn through the year.
| Skill | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Listening | Following longer instructions, understanding stories and poems, and answering comprehension questions. |
| Speaking | Reciting poems, narrating stories, holding short conversations, and expressing ideas in English. |
| Reading | Reading stories and poems with fluency, identifying main ideas, and answering comprehension questions. |
| Writing | Writing short paragraphs, picture descriptions, simple letters, and creative responses. |
| Vocabulary | Words for colours, friendship, toys, food, sky, space, and everyday life. |
| Creative Expression | Drawing and writing activities that connect language to imagination and personal experience. |
Class 3 English Assessment and Exam Pattern
CBSE does not conduct formal board examinations at the foundational stage. Class 3 English assessment is continuous and activity-based, with teachers observing children through daily classroom tasks, oral activities, and short written work. Santoor also includes a self-assessment section that encourages reflection. Common assessment formats are listed below.
| Assessment Area | Typical Activity Type |
|---|---|
| Oral Recitation | Reciting Santoor poems such as Colours, Out in the Garden, Thank God, and Night with correct rhythm. |
| Reading Aloud | Reading stories like Badal and Moti, The Big Laddoo, or Chandrayaan with fluency and expression. |
| Picture Description | Describing a picture in three to four sentences using vocabulary from the chapters. |
| Writing Tasks | Short paragraphs, story completion, fill-in-the-blanks, and creative responses based on chapter themes. |
| Comprehension | Answering questions based on stories and poems, identifying main ideas, and finding details. |
| Creative Activities | Role play, storytelling, show and tell, and drawing exercises based on the textbook. |
| Self-Assessment | Santoor includes a self-assessment section that encourages children to reflect on their own learning. |
Schools may conduct periodic assessments through worksheets, short comprehension tests, and oral activities. The focus remains on building reading fluency, writing confidence, and self-awareness rather than marks.
Prescribed Textbook: Santoor by NCERT
The only prescribed textbook for CBSE Class 3 English under the 2026-27 curriculum is Santoor, published by NCERT. It is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage 2023. Santoor replaces the older Marigold Part 3 textbook and introduces a fresh thematic structure for eight and nine year olds.
Key features of the Santoor textbook for Class 3 English:
- Four thematic units covering friendship, toys and games, food, and the sky.
- Twelve chapters that mix poems, stories, and picture-based lessons.
- A progressive sequence that builds on Class 2 Mridang and prepares for Class 4.
- Integrated Let us speak, Let us read, and Let us write sections in each chapter.
- A self-assessment section that encourages children to reflect on their own learning.
- Colourful illustrations and characters that keep young readers engaged.
- Audio versions available through the NCERT CIET portal for pronunciation support.
How to Help Your Child Learn Class 3 English at Home
Class 3 English is best learned when school lessons are supported by short, regular practice at home. A few practical habits that work well:
- Read a Santoor chapter or a short storybook aloud with your child every day.
- Ask your child to retell stories like Badal and Moti or The Big Laddoo in their own words.
- Practise spelling and vocabulary using flashcards, word games, or a simple notebook.
- Encourage picture description using books, posters, or family photographs.
- Recite Santoor poems together and pay attention to rhythm and pronunciation.
- Introduce one grammar topic a week through everyday examples rather than as a rule.
- Encourage short paragraph writing about a familiar topic, like favourite food or a friend.
- Keep corrections gentle. At this stage, fluency and confidence still matter more than perfect grammar.
Related CBSE Class 3 Resources
Parents and teachers looking for more Class 3 CBSE resources for the 2026-27 session often explore the following alongside the English syllabus:
FAQs on CBSE Class 3 English Syllabus 2026-27
1. What is the prescribed textbook for CBSE Class 3 English in 2026-27?
The prescribed textbook for CBSE Class 3 English for the 2026-27 academic year is Santoor, published by NCERT. It is the updated coursebook aligned with the National Education Policy 2020 and replaces the older Marigold Part 3 textbook.
2. How many chapters are there in the Class 3 English Santoor textbook?
The Santoor textbook for Class 3 English has 12 chapters organised into four thematic units: Fun with Friends, Toys and Games, Good Food, and The Sky. The chapters include a mix of poems, stories, and picture-based activities.
3. What are the units in the CBSE Class 3 English syllabus 2026-27?
The Class 3 English syllabus is divided into four units. Unit 1 is Fun with Friends, Unit 2 is Toys and Games, Unit 3 is Good Food, and Unit 4 is The Sky. Each unit contains three chapters that combine prose, poetry, and activities.
4. What grammar topics are covered in CBSE Class 3 English?
Class 3 English grammar covers nouns (common and proper), pronouns, verbs and simple tenses, adjectives, articles (a, an, the), singular and plural (including irregular forms), prepositions, conjunctions, sentence types (statement, question, exclamation), opposites and synonyms, and punctuation.
5. Is the CBSE Class 3 English syllabus difficult?
No. The syllabus is designed for eight and nine year olds and builds gradually on Class 2 Mridang. Reading passages are slightly longer, grammar is more structured, and writing expectations move up to short paragraphs. Most children adjust within the first term.
6. Are there formal exams in CBSE Class 3 English?
No. CBSE follows a continuous and activity-based assessment approach at the foundational stage. Class 3 English is assessed through oral recitation, reading aloud, writing tasks, picture description, comprehension answers, and creative activities. Santoor also includes self-assessment sections. There are no formal board exams.
7. What is the difference between Marigold and Santoor?
Marigold Part 3 was the older NCERT textbook used for Class 3 English under the previous curriculum. Santoor is the updated textbook introduced under NEP 2020 and NCF 2023. It has a cleaner thematic structure, a tighter set of 12 chapters, integrated skill-building sections, and a self-assessment component.
8. How much writing is expected from a Class 3 English student?
By the end of Class 3, a child is expected to write short paragraphs of five to six sentences, picture descriptions, simple story responses, and brief comprehension answers. Handwriting, spelling, and punctuation are all given attention.
9. How can parents support Class 3 English learning at home?
Parents can read aloud daily, encourage storytelling and retelling, practise spelling through word games, recite poems together, and set short writing tasks on familiar topics. Short, consistent sessions of fifteen to twenty minutes are more effective than long study hours.
10. Where can I download the CBSE Class 3 English syllabus PDF for 2026-27?
The CBSE Class 3 English syllabus is based entirely on the NCERT Santoor textbook, which is available as a free PDF on the official NCERT website. Audio versions are also available through the NCERT CIET portal. The unit and chapter list shown on this page reflects the same syllabus followed by all CBSE affiliated schools for 2026-27.
