Third Grade Lessons

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English/ Language Arts

Mathematics

Social Studies

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Mathematics

Measurement and Data

Multiplication

Division

Estimation

Fractions

MEASUREMENT AND DATA

Scrambled States: Ag in Math Class Teachers read an age appropriate book about plants and record new vocabulary in their personal dictionary. The teacher or student selects an agriculture activity from the booklet More Scrambled States of Agriculture. Garden in a glove is one recommended activity. Students collect and record data on the number of days until germination, showing the results in one more more line plots.

MULTIPLICATION

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.4 – Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers.

  • Making Camp – 10 minute history– Playing Making Camp, a game with Ojibwe History Integrated with Math. NOTE: This is similar to the lesson plan below but gives detailed instructions on how to access the game, and assign student logins. This lesson has a Bilingual English Spanish version featuring Making Camp Bilingual – Making Camp – 10 minute history (Bilingual English & Spanish).
  • 10-minute multiplication practice with Ojibwe history – This is a quicker start version of the lesson above, that includes an additional history activity. Each of the three activities in this lesson only takes a few minutes and teaches Native American history or multiplication. This lesson has a Bilingual English Spanish version featuring Making Camp Bilingual – 10-Minute Multiplication Practice with Ojibwe History (Bilingual English & Spanish).
  • Rabbit Stew and Multiplication – Students learn about what foods the Ojibwe people ate and how their diet changed when they were forced on to the reservation. They play a multiplication tic-tac-toe to snare rabbits and spend the points earned in the game to outfit their wigwam.
  • Red River carts and multiplication review – Students watch a video on the importance of the Red River cart in expanding trade. The teacher presents (or students may read) a presentation discussing Red River carts followed by two related word problems. The lesson concludes with students playing Making Camp Premium, reinforcing multiplication facts and the Ojibwe history lesson learned.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.1 – Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.3 – Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.4 – Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.C.7 – Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.

CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.B.5 Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide. Examples: If 6 × 4 = 24 is known, then 4 × 6 = 24 is also known. (Commutative property of multiplication.)

  • Multiplication Terms – Students watch a video on multiplication terms then review terms with flash cards. Students quiz each other with flash cards. The lesson closes with practicing multiplication and division by playing Making Camp Premium.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.D.8 Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

  • Travois, multiplication and two-step problems – Students will develop an understanding of the meanings of the four operations of whole numbers through activities and problems involving real life scenarios from Indigenous history. Students use properties of operations to calculate products of whole numbers, using increasingly sophisticated strategies based on these properties to solve using the four operations problems involving single-digit factors. It includes educational videos, games and video presentations that can be used for reviews and daily practice.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.D.8 – Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MD.A.3 – Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.D.8 – Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons.

CCSS.MATH.Content.4.NBT.B.5 -Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value and the properties of operations. (Common Core Standards)

H.3-5.3 – Describe the North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings. (US State – ND – Social Studies 2019 Standards)

  • Multiplication word problems – In this integrated lesson, students learn about responsibilities of children in traditional Dakota society and discuss their responsibilities today. They learn a problem-solving strategy that can be applied to a wide range of situations, including mathematics.

DIVISION

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.B.6 – Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

ESTIMATION

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.D.8 – Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NBT.A.1 – Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100.

  • Estimation & Rounding – In this lesson plan, students will learn about estimation as a problem solving strategy and practice rounding to the nearest 10 and 100.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.B.5 – Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value and the properties of operations.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.OA.A.3 – Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operation … Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.B.4 – Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units— whole numbers, halves, or quarters.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.2 – Measure the length of an object twice, using length units of different lengths for the two measurements; describe how the two measurements relate to the size of the unit chosen.

  • Measurement and Augmented Reality – Students learn that augmented reality is a type of computer application that adds to (augments) the reality we see. They learn that the measure apps on phones and tablets are a type of augmented reality. Students use an app to measure items, then use a ruler or tape measure to measure again. They plot their measurements on line plots and compare the two measures.

Also, search the mathematics video catalog for additional resources.

FRACTIONS

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.1 – Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts

  • Introducing Fractions – The student will learn the definition of fraction, parts of fractions and how fractions have been used in past and present.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.2 Understand a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.2.A Represent a fraction 1/b on a number line diagram by defining the interval from 0 to 1 as the whole and partitioning it into b equal parts. Recognize that each part has size 1/b and that the endpoint of the part based at 0 locates the number 1/b on the number line.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.2.B Represent a fraction a/b on a number line diagram by marking off a lengths 1/b from 0. Recognize that the resulting interval has size a/b and that its endpoint locates the number a/b on the number line.

  • When a fraction equals 1 – This lesson plan will build upon the already introduced concepts and key terms of fractions in our “Introducing Fractions” lesson plan. Students will learn that a fraction N/N =1 and be able to solve problems with fractions equal to 1 in various contexts, including number lines, time and pizza. This is the bilingual version of the lesson above that includes resources in English and Spanish – Fractions Equal to 1 (Bilingual English & Spanish).

English/ Language Arts

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

  • Animal Idioms – This idioms lesson for Grades 3-4 begins with a presentation, popular song about idioms, a list of animal idioms, two video games, and an idioms matching activity. Also enclosed is a book list for Grades 1-4 about idioms.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

  • All about sheep – This English language arts and agriculture lesson consists of two short activities that teach students in Grades 3-4 about sheep using an online ebook and flashcards about domestic sheep. The lesson ends with a formative assessment writing activity consisting of either an informational writing prompt or an opinion one.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

Social Studies

All of these lessons address National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) theme– The study of people, places, and environments enables us to understand the relationship between human populations and the physical world. 

Individual state standards are addressed below.

H.3-5.3 – Describe the North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings. (US State – ND – Social Studies 2019 Standards)

  • Multiplication word problems – In this integrated lesson, students learn about responsibilities of children in traditional Dakota society and discuss their responsibilities today. They learn a problem-solving strategy that can be applied to a wide range of situations, including mathematics.

Minnesota History Substrand 2, Standard 3. Historical events have multiple causes and can lead to varied and unintended outcomes.

Minnesota State Standard – History Sub-strand 4, Standard 15 “North America was populated by indigenous nations that had developed a wide range of social structures, political systems, and economic activities, and whose expansive trade networks extended across the continent.”

  • Ojibwe clans and migration – This Ojibwe clan lesson for Grade 3 is focused on Ojibwe culture. Students learn where people and places are located and why they are there. They will become familiar with the causes, patterns and effects of Ojibwe settlement and migration. They will learn of the different population centers in Ojibwe society and investigate the impact of human activities on the environment. This lesson has a Bilingual English Spanish version featuring Making Camp Bilingual – Ojibwe Clans and Migration (Bilingual English & Spanish).
  • Red River carts and multiplication review – Students watch a video on the importance of the Red River cart in expanding trade. The teacher presents (or students may read) a presentation discussing Red River carts followed by two related word problems. The lesson concludes with students playing Making Camp Premium, reinforcing multiplication facts and the Ojibwe history lesson learned.
  • Trade for a Wigwam – Students will watch two brief videos, one on building a wigwam and one on trading between tribes. They then trade in the points they have earned for items for their wigwam.

ND H.3-5.3, & ND H.3-5.9 Describe North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings. Describe how individuals and groups contributed to North Dakota.

  • Introduction to Lakota/Dakota Oral Histories & Storytelling Students watch a video with an elder telling a story in Lakota. Students write their guesses as to the meaning of the video and are then read the story in English. The teacher gives a short presentation on of oral history as used by the Lakota/Dakota. Students play a game with stories from Dakota or Lakota culture. Students present their own examples of oral history in writing or orally. Assessment is in oral or written presentation and via data reports on answers in Making Camp Lakota or Dakota.