Unit 6: Grade 3 Lessons

Students play a herding game to explore equal grouping, then do an equal sharing activity related to loot bags. In pairs, students plan birthday parties for dogs and cats, dividing dogs into equal teams and dividing treats equally among loot bags. To consolidate, students are introduced to the division sign, then write the related division sentences for a given array. Students discuss how repeated subtraction and division are related.

To start, students read the Math Little Book Planting Seeds, setting the context for modelling equal grouping and equal sharing situations using arrays. In pairs, students solve a multiplication problem and a division problem involving larger numbers. To consolidate, students share and model the strategies they used to multiply and divide.

Students solve multiplication and division story problems in different ways. In pairs, students write story problems for given multiplication and division sentences, then trade problems with another pair and solve each other’s problems. To consolidate, students share the story problems they created, then work together to rewrite a multiplication story problem as a division story problem.

Students are introduced to the fraction symbol, then use a number line to show fractions of a length. In groups, students fold number lines to show equal parts, then use them to compare fractions. To consolidate, students compare unit fractions, then compare fractions with the same numerator.

When working with fractions, it is very common to overemphasize fourths. It is important that other fractions, such as fifths, sixths, and tenths are also explored.

Students sort themselves using different attributes and use fractions to describe the sorts. In pairs, students sort a set of 10 objects in different ways and use fractions to name the parts. To consolidate, students talk about how a fraction of a set still represents a fraction of a whole, only the whole is the whole collection (all the items) rather than the whole shape or line.

This lesson provides opportunities to work with equivalent fractions while solving fair share problems. Students are encouraged to explore a range of fractional units while reinforcing the importance of equal parts and using multiple ways to name or represent fractions.