Third Grade Math

What your child should know and be able to do...

Throughout the school year, 3rd grade students will spend the most time working on the following topics. They should understand them well by the end of the year.

  • Remembering the product of any two single-digit numbers (remembering that 7x9=63). Dividing mentally with ease for problems within the times tables (56÷8=7).

  • Solving two-step word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example: “You already have 12 pens. There are 5 new packs of pens with 6 pens in each pack. How many pens do you have now?)

  • Beginning to multiply numbers with more than one digit (multiplying 9 x 80).

  • Understanding the meaning of division. Relating division to multiplication. (For example, “I know that 63÷9=7 because I remember 7x9=63).

  • Understanding fractions as parts of wholes. For example, ¾ inch is the length of 3 of the parts when 1 inch is broken into 4 equal parts.

  • Understanding fractions as numbers. This includes representing fractions and whole numbers on a number line diagram; equation whole numbers and fractions (6/6 = 1 and 3 = 3/1); and comparing fractions in simple cases where the numerators are equal or the denominators are equal (2/8 is less than 6/8 because two parts of a given size are less than six parts of the same size).


Everyday activities to support learning:

  • Ask children real-world addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems with two steps. For example:

    1. Your teacher, Mr. Dent, had 32 markers. He buys new boxes of markers that have 9 markers in each box. Now, he has 86 markers. How many new boxes did he buy?

    2. Students in 3 art classes cut 728 inches of ribbon into 8-inch long pieces. Two of the classes together cut 656 inches of ribbon. How many 8-inch long pieces of ribbon did the other class cut?

  • Use the language of unit fractions (one-fourth, one-half, one-third) when sharing. (“You get one-half of the cookie and your brother gets one-half of the cookie”)

  • Practice times tables (all products of two one-digit numbers) and relate the multiplication to an understanding of division (6x4 is 24, therefore 24÷ 6 is 4).

  • Read story books about multiplication. Talk about how multiplication makes sense when dealing with groups of objects. Here is a list of some good books from which to choose: https://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/teaching-multiplication.html