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Grade 3 Math

Course Description

In this course, students will deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts through hands-on activities and real-world applications. Emphasizing problem-solving and critical thinking, the course covers:

  • Understand Multiplication and Area: Students learn that multiplication is a way to show equal groups and can be represented using repeated addition, arrays, number lines, and bar models. They explore how factors are the numbers being multiplied and the product is the answer, and they discover that the order of factors can be switched (commutative property) without changing the product. Students also build a strong understanding of area by using unit squares, arrays, and by breaking larger shapes into smaller rectangles (distributive property) to find the total area.
  • Multiplication and Division: Students explore multiplication as repeated addition and division as repeated subtraction, using tools like skip counting, arrays, number lines, and bar models to solve and understand problems. They learn important multiplication and division properties: identifying patterns in fact families and learning how to break apart or group factors to solve more complex problems. Students also use place value and rules for multiplying by tens, recognize how multiplication and division are inverse operations, and apply strategies to solve one- and two-step word problems, including those with unknown values represented by letters or symbols.
  • Addition and Subtraction Strategies & Applications: Students build a strong understanding of addition and subtraction by exploring patterns, properties like the commutative and associative properties, and using place value strategies to solve multi-digit problems. They learn how to round and estimate to check the reasonableness of answers and solve real-world problems involving time, money, and measurement. Students also explore geometry by measuring perimeter, identifying polygons, and understanding how shapes can have the same area but different perimeters, or vice versa.
  • Fractions: Students develop a deep understanding of fractions as numbers that represent equal parts of a whole or a group. They learn how to read and write fractions, identify numerators and denominators, and represent fractions using number lines, models, and real-world examples. Students also compare fractions using strategies like benchmark fractions and explore equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and how equal parts have equal areas.
  • Measurement and Data: Students learn to measure liquid volume and mass using both standard (cups, quarts, gallons, pounds) and metric units (liters, grams, kilograms). They use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve real-world measurement problems. Students also collect, represent, and interpret data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots—including plotting fractional data on a number line.
  • Geometry: Students explore the attributes of shapes and learn how to describe and compare them. They discover that different shapes can share attributes, which helps group them into larger categories like quadrilaterals. Students also learn to identify and draw examples of quadrilaterals, including rhombuses, rectangles, and squares.

Course Big Ideas

  • Multiplication involves combining equal groups where each factor has a specific meaning: the first factor represents the number of groups, and the second factor represents the number of objects in each group. Using concrete and visual models helps illustrate this relationship and shows that the product is the total number of objects across all groups.
  • Visual tools like arrays demonstrate multiplication concepts and reveal properties such as the Commutative Property, showing that factors can switch places without changing the product. Building on known multiplication facts allows students to derive new facts, deepening their understanding and fluency.
  • Addition/subtraction and multiplication/division are connected through related facts that show how one operation undoes the other, and understanding place value supports using strategies to solve both.
  • Using strategies and properties helps build fluency in learning basic facts, which, together with fluency, makes solving computational problems easier.
  • Rounding and estimation are essential strategies that help students check the reasonableness of answers.
  • Understanding measurement concepts like perimeter, money, and time supports practical problem solving and comparison.
  • Fractions represent equal parts of a whole or a group and can be shown in many different ways, such as number lines, shapes, or sets. Understanding that all parts must be the same size helps us read, write, and compare fractions accurately. Fractions greater than one can be written as mixed numbers. 
  • Understanding and using standard and metric units to measure volume, mass, and other quantities, combined with fluency in basic math facts, helps solve a variety of measurement problems.
  • Collecting, displaying, and interpreting data using picture graphs, bar graphs, and line plots supports solving one- and two-step problems and deepens understanding of measurement concepts.
  • Shapes have different attributes, such as the number of sides or angles, that help us describe and classify them. Recognizing shared and unique attributes helps understand relationships between shapes and sort them into categories.
     

Course Essential Questions

  • How can we use multiplication and division, along with visual models and properties, to understand equal groups, build fact fluency, and solve problems?
  • In what ways do addition and subtraction work together, and how can strategies like rounding and estimation help us check answers and solve real-world problems involving measurement, money, and time?
  • What are fractions, and how can we represent, compare, and understand them as equal parts of a whole or group using different models and symbols?
  • How do we measure, organize, and describe objects and data using standard and metric units, graphs, and shape attributes to solve problems and classify shapes?
     

Course Competencies

  • Accurately perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with whole numbers to estimate, round, find area and perimeter, and apply these skills to solve real-world problems.
  • Measure length, mass, and liquid volume using customary and metric units, create and interpret line plots, tell time to the nearest minute, solve elapsed time problems, count money and make change, and connect math operations to real-life contexts through strategic problem solving.
  • Understand and represent fractions as parts of a whole, compare and order fractions with like numerators or denominators, recognize and generate equivalent fractions, and demonstrate understanding of symmetry by partitioning shapes into equal parts.
  • Use visual models to collect, organize, and interpret data using charts, graphs, and tables to represent mathematical situations.
  • Identify, classify, and draw polygons by their attributes (sides, angles).
  • Use mathematical vocabulary and tools (manipulatives, drawings, technology) to support understanding and explain the reasoning clearly.
     

Course Assessments

  • Growth Measure Benchmarks
  • Acadience Math Assessments 
  • Are You Ready? 
  • Module 1 Assessment
  • Module 2 Assessment
  • Module 3 Assessment
  • Module 4 Assessment
  • Module 5 Assessment
  • Module 6 Assessment
  • Module 7 Assessment
  • Module 8 Assessment
  • Module 9 Assessment
  • Module 10 Assessment
  • Module 11 Assessment
  • Module 12 Assessment
  • Module 13 Assessment
  • Module 14 Assessment
  • Module 15 Assessment
  • Module 16 Assessment
  • Module 17 Assessment
  • Module 18 Assessment
  • Module 19 Assessment
  • Module 20 Assessment

Course Units