our third grade program

Math

Our mathematics program is built on the interaction of a mastery of basic skills and a strong conceptual understanding of applications through problem solving. We integrate mathematics into other subject areas and to incorporate the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics as set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Each lesson is a problem-solving experience and deals with important mathematical concepts that will help students develop and extend their mathematical thinking. Students are encouraged to collaborate with classmates and teachers and to describe their thought process in writing.

Third Graders continue to develop, construct, test and reflect on their understanding of mathematical concepts at increasingly sophisticated and independent levels. Teachers use TERC’s Investigations in Number, Data, and Space as the key instructional textand the NCTM focal points as instructional guideposts. Communicating and making connections to prior knowledge as well as exploring and discovering mathematical connections and making sense of them are key elements at this grade level. The students demonstrate their understanding through processes that move from concrete, to pictorial, to symbolic representations. Assessment at this level is both informal and formal. Formal assessments are completed in pre- and post-assessment settings through observations and at scheduled times at the beginning, middle and end of the year, and include a variety of specific math skills and expectations.

Instruction at the Third Grade level focuses on these concepts, strategies and skills:

Solving problems in number, data, and space using basic mathematical tools and materials: explore ideas about odd and even numbers, constructing 100, doubles and halves and collecting data; introduce tools, materials, expectations and routines that will support an engaging environment of mathematical investigation
Building understanding of the Base Ten number system with “landmarks”: use money, story problems, 100 charts and cubes to study 100, its factors and its multiples; build an understanding of place value in our Base Ten number system
Developing addition/subtraction strategies using estimation and different strategies to double-check work: develop addition and subtraction strategies to solve problems in a variety of contexts including money, time and data
Working with the multiplication tables up to the 12s, identifying patterns and developing multiplication/division strategies: become familiar with the multiplication pairs up to 12x12; explore factors and multiples using arrays and the 100 chart; solve multiplication and division story problems
Exploring measurement and simple statistics by measuring familiar objects with inch rulers and yardsticks, centimeter rulers and meter sticks: collect, represent and describe data; collect through measuring with a variety of standard and nonstandard units including paces, inches and feet, and centimeters and meters
Investigating numbers below 0, net change, the opposite effects of addition and subtraction, and how to add and subtract to reach a given answer: use number lines and other models to solve problems involving numbers above and below zero; investigate the relationship between addition and subtraction
Using fractions and mixed numbers to solve sharing problems and build wholes form fractional parts: solve sharing problems and build wholes from fractional parts using rectangles, pattern blocks and money; explore decimal equivalents of common fractions on the calculator
Exploring shape, area and geometric motions: use tetromino shapes on and off the computer; investigate patterns, congruence, area and motion
Exploring the lengths of paths, perimeter and turns: investigate length, perimeter and turns as well as shapes
Sorting, building and describing polygons and solids: sort and describe 3-D shapes; analyze relationships between 2-D and 3-D space; investigate volume of rectangular solids