3rd Grade Math

By the end of third grade, students should be able to demonstrate the following math abilities. Many skills are worked on throughout the year and build on each other.

Multiplication and division

• Solve problems involving multiplication such as “Ted has 5 plates of cookies to sell at a bake sale. Each plate has 8 cookies on it. How many cookies is that?” Use objects, drawings and strategies as needed.
• Solve problems involving division, such as “Teresa wants to share 24 toys equally among 4 friends. How many toys would she give to each friend?” Use objects, drawings and strategies as needed.
• Have multiplication facts memorized.

Addition and subtraction

• Use mental math strategies and written methods to solve two and three digit addition and subtraction problems.

Fractions

• Understand what simple fractions mean. For example, 2 slices of a pizza that have been cut into 8 equal slices is 2/8 of the pizza.
• Use drawings or objects to show how two fractions can be the same. In the example above, if the pizza was cut into 4 equal slices and you had 1 piece, that would be the same amount as 2/8 of the pizza.
• Show where fractions are on a number line. For example, 1/2 is at a point that is half of the way from 0 to 1.
• Tell which of two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator is larger. For example, compare 2/4 and 2/5 (same numerator) or 2/4 and 3/4 (same denominator).

Other topics

• Tell time to the nearest minute on both analog and digital clocks.
• Measure objects to the nearest quarter or half of an inch.
• Solve problems involving perimeters of various shapes.
• Understand how to find the area of a rectangle or square.
• Describe the characteristics of rectangles, squares and rhombuses, and explain how they are alike and different.