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Mathematics - Elementary Curriculum Mathematics Grade 3
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Strand: MEASUREMENT AND DATA (3.MD)

Solve problems involving measurement and estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes, and masses of objects. (Standards 1-2). Represent and interpret data (Standards 3.MD.3- 4). Understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and addition (Standards 3.MD.5-7). Recognize perimeter as an attribute of plane figures and distinguish between linear and area measures (Standard 3.MD.8).

Standard 3.MD.7

Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition (refer to 3.OA.5).

  • Area (elementary)
    In this lesson students will find the area of rectangular shapes and irregular shapes with right angles.
  • Area Explorer
    The applet in this activity generates a random geometric figure and allows the student to test their understanding of how to find the volume of an area.
  • Finding the Area of Polygons
    The purpose of this instructional task is for students to find the area of figures that can be decomposed and then recomposed into rectyangles.
  • Fixed Areas
    This lesson plan activity helps students understand the relation between area and perimeter.
  • Geoboards in the Classroom
    This site offers the teacher lesson plans and resources for exploring the area of two-dimensional objects.
  • Grade 3 Math Module 4: Multiplication and Area (EngageNY)
    In this 20-day module students explore area as an attribute of two-dimensional figures and relate it to their prior understandings of multiplication. Students conceptualize area as the amount of two-dimensional surface that is contained within a plane figure. They come to understand that the space can be tiled with unit squares without gaps or overlaps. They make predictions and explore which rectangles cover the most area when the side lengths differ. Students progress from using square tile manipulatives to drawing their own area models and manipulate rectangular arrays to concretely demonstrate the arithmetic properties. The module culminates with students designing a simple floor plan that conforms to given area specifications.
  • Grade 3 Unit 3: Patterns in Addition and Multiplication (Georgia Standards)
    In this unit, students will understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and addition. Find the area of a rectangle with whole- number side lengths by tiling it. Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole-number side lengths in context of solving real world and mathematical problems. Construct and analyze area models with the same product. Describe and extend numeric patterns. Determine addition and multiplication patterns. Understand the commutative propertys relationship to area. Create arrays and area models to find different ways to decompose a product and use arrays and area models to develop understanding of the distributive property.
  • Grade 3 Unit 4: Geometry (Georgia Standards)
    In this unit students will further develop understandings of geometric figures by focusing on identification and descriptions of plane figures based on geometric properties. Identifies examples and non-examples of plane figures based on geometric properties. Identify differences among quadrilaterals. Understand that shapes in different categories may share attributes and those attributes can define a larger category (example: rhombuses, rectangles, and others have four sides and are all called quadrilaterals). Expand the ability to see geometry in the real world and can draw plane figure shapes based on attributes.
  • Halves, thirds, and sixths
    The purpose of this task is for students to use their understanding of area as the number of square units that covers a region, to recognize different ways of representing fractions with area, and to understand why fractions are equivalent in special cases.
  • India's Bathroom Tiles
    Students are given a word problem about tiling a bathroom. This task allows students to use the concept of "tiling" as an entry point to linking area with multiplication. Ideally, they would be given foam or plastic tiles to actually practice putting the tiles on the space without gaps or overlaps.
  • Introducing the Distributive Property
    This is an instructional task, best used when students are first working with the distributive property. The standard asks students to apply the distributive property to area models, though this task intentionally begins with array models.
  • Junior Architects
    This unit of 4 lessons leads students to design a clubhouse and thereby review two- and three-dimensional shapes, calculate perimeter and area, and create blueprints and three-dimensional models.
  • Length, Perimeter, and Area
    This lesson will help students understand how to find the area and perimeter of a random shape and a random triangle.
  • Measurement and Data (3.MD) - Third Grade Core Guide
    The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and educators around the state of Utah developed these guides for Third Grade Mathematics - Measurement and Data (3.MD)
  • Shape Builder
    This activity allows the student to explore area and perimeter by either allowing the computer to randomly draw a shape on a grid or build the shape on the grid.
  • Shape Explorer
    The applet contained in this lesson allows the student to test his or her skill at calculating the area and perimeter of a various figures.
  • The Square Counting Shortcut
    Students are given 4 pictures made up of squares. This is a rectangle subdivision task; ideally instead of counting each square. students should break the letters into rectangles, multiply to find the areas, and add up the areas.
  • Three Hidden Rectangles
    The purpose of this task is for students to decompose a figure into rectangles and then find the total area by adding the area of all of its smaller, non-overlapping rectangles. This task also requires students to create expressions to represent the area of the entire figure as the sum of the areas of the rectangles.


UEN logo http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialists - Patricia  Stephens-French or Molly  Basham and see the Mathematics - Elementary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.