Units of Study
Multiplication and Division Facts
In our first unit, students use patterns, models and properties of multiplication to multiply and divide within 100, while focusing on multiplications of 0-5, 9, and 10. Students explore the relationship between multiplication and division as inverse operations as they begin to cultivate a foundation for fact fluency and strategies to problem solve in multiple contexts with various unknowns. As students acquire the facts of 0-5 and 10, they will observe consistencies and utilize counting to help them understand the multiplicative relationships and properties found among these numbers. As they study the facts for 9, they’ll move beyond counting (foundational) strategies toward patterns and reasoning strategies and represent multiplication and division through models (area, array, manipulatives, and drawings). Students will apply this understanding to word problems that include situations involving Equal Groups and Array/Area.
Measurement
Students explore customary and metric measurement, and time concepts. Students extend their measurement skills for length, volume, weight, and mass. They measure lengths to a quarter inch and add, subtract, multiply, and divide measurements to solve problems. Students learn to tell time on a clock as well use models to solve problems. In Grade 3, students' work with data and time is closely related to fraction concepts, computations with the four operations, and the number line.
Word Problems
As second graders, students learned problem-solving strategies within the context of addition and subtraction. During this unit, third graders develop problem-solving strategies by solving a variety of problem types within the context of all four operations. They use their prior knowledge of carrying out the four operations, reading problems to develop proficiency in solving one-step and two-step problems. Visual models and real-world situations are used throughout the unit to illustrate important problem-solving concepts.
Fractions
A conceptual understanding of fractions is developed beginning with unit fractions and what they represent. Students learn how non-unit fractions are built from unit fractions, and to count or add to find the value of a fraction. Modeling fractions in a variety of ways assists students in learning not only how to compare fractions but also to find equivalent fractions.
Geometry
In this unit, students dive deep into the concepts of perimeter and area of rectangles and rectilinear figures. They will explore the relationship between area and perimeter by investigating rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas, as well as rectangles with the same area and different perimeter. Students will also find unknown side lengths using inverse operations and partition rectilinear figures to determine the area.