Third-grade students learn to recognize and write numbers up to 100,000 and
know the meaning of sum, difference, and product. Students solidify their knowledge of telling time, counting money, regrouping, and place value. They continue
to study logic, problem-solving, geometry, and standard measurement. Multiplication
is taught. Division and fractions are introduced. Third-graders study statistics and probability. They collect, record, and analyze data. Math lab continues.
Goals and Objectives
Number and Operations
Counting and grouping
Counts by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 10s
Compares and orders numbers up to 100,000
Writes the words for any numeral up to 100,000
Addition
Recalls and applies addition facts with sums up to 20
Knows the meaning of "sum" and the (+) sign in addition
Calculates multi-digit addition with regrouping
Subtraction
Recalls and applies subtraction facts under 20
Calculates multi-digit subtraction with regrouping
Understands subtraction as comparing two sets and finding the difference
between them
Knows the meaning of "difference" and the (-) sign
Multiplication
Understands the concept of multiplication as repeated addition
Begins to build and record multiplication facts up to 11 x 11
Builds arrays of multiplication
Commits multiplication facts to memory
Division
Understands the concept of division as repeated subtraction
Begins to build division facts with divisors 0-9
Develops the concept of division as the inverse function of multiplication
by the building of arrays
Builds and records division of a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number
with remainders
Understands the meaning of the division signs
Makes four related multiplication and division sentences from three
given numbers, e.g., 3 x 2 = 6, 2 x 3 = 6, 6 divided by 3 = 2, 6 divided by
2 = 3
Fractions
Uses concrete materials to recognize, represent, and compare halves,
thirds, fourths, and eighths
Numeration
Extends understanding of place value by the use of manipulatives such as
base ten blocks
Rounds a 2-, 3-, or 4-digit number to the nearest ten
Provides missing numerals in a series
Measurement
Understands the concept of recording time and the relationship between
seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, and centuries
Tells time using an analog and digital clock
Adds and subtracts using time of one hour, half-hour, and quarter-hour
only
Knows the purpose of, and how to read, a thermometer, scale, and calendar
Uses manipulatives to explore and calculate area and perimeter
Recognizes and counts money and makes change
Reads timetables and schedules
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Works with intersecting, parallel, and perpendicular lines
Uses visual and concrete materials to identify two and three dimensional geometric figures
Recognizes lines of symmetry, congruence, and similarity
Draws and builds simple three-dimensional geometric shapes
Patterns and Functions
Practices making and using function tables
Practices making and using graphs
Describes the relationship given in a table
Determines a location of a point on a rectangular grid by using ordered
pairs
Data Analysis and Probability
Reads and recognizes bar, line, and picture graphs
Collects, organizes, and interprets data to create bar, line, and picture graphs
Develops the ability to predict, plan, organize, and carry out simple probability
experiments
Develops an intuitive use of probability concepts through the use of games,
activities, and stories
Assessment and Evaluation
The third-grade teachers assess students throughout the year. They administer
pre- and post-assessments at the beginning and end of the year, and evaluate
students individually and in groups, using a variety of assessment tools
including:
Individual evaluations for understanding of concepts
Record-keeping of daily work and homework
TOPS boxes and Puddle Questions for individual problem-solving assessment
Materials
Real materials (manipulatives) are used to help third graders develop
a full understanding of mathematical concepts. Manipulatives used in third
grade include base ten blocks, color cubes, color tiles,
Cuisenaire rods, dice, fraction circles, pattern blocks,
tangrams, tessellation puzzles, and Unifix cubes.
References and Resources
About Teaching Mathematics. Burns, Marilyn.
A Collection of Math Lessons. Burns, Marilyn.
Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. NCTM, 2000.
