What math do students learn? Third grade

WHAT MATH DO STUDENTS LEARN? THIRD GRADE

Focus on Understanding This year students will be learning both the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). One of the most important things about the standards is that students need to DEEPLY understand math concepts.

Third Grade Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

The most important standards for Third Grade are:  Demonstrates understanding of place value

concepts to 1,000,000

 Represents and orders fractions, and finds

equivalent fractions with models

 Uses strategies to solve addition, subtraction,

multiplication, and division problems

 Describes, compares, and classifies two-

dimensional shapes

 Measures objects to nearest ¼ inch and

millimeter, and finds perimeter  Represents patterns using words, variables,

tables, and graphs  Tells time to the nearest minute and

determines elapsed time  Constructs and analyzes tables, bar graphs,

pictographs, and line plots  Solves problems using a variety of strategies

This is HOW students will be learning about the content.

Curriculum  Up until FCAT we will be focused on

NGSSS and any closely related CCSS  After FCAT we will focus on any

unrelated CCSS, including:  Plotting measurement data using halves and

fourths on a line plot  Deriving the formula for area  Measuring, estimating, and solving problems with volume and mass

Investigations To help build a deep understanding, we will be spending the majority of our time working with Investigations in Number, Data, and Space.

Investigations in Class In school, students:  investigate problems  work in groups  use various strategies  communicate thinking orally and in writing  play games

Investigations at Home At home, students may be asked to:  practice an activity or game from class  collect some information to be used in class  solve a few problems and explain how they

solved the problems

 solve problems in more than one way

Helping at Home You can help your child by:  reading all of the Family Letters that are sent home  helping your child find a place at home to keep game materials and directions that are sent home  playing the games together that are sent home

Helping at Home  asking your child questions

when they are stuck rather than giving them an answer 

“What do you need to find out?”



“How can you get started?”



“Have you done anything like this in school?”

 keeping a positive attitude about math

Online Student and Parent access to math software and Student Math Handbook

FCAT  Students in 3rd grade will take the Math FCAT

toward the end of the year.  FCAT will test students’ understanding of the Next

Generation Sunshine State Standards.  The questions on FCAT expect students

to deeply understand concepts.

FCAT Sample 3rd Grade Question

Parent Resources Visit the District website’s Elementary Math page for more information about the 3rd Grade standards, our math program, and how you can assist your child: http://www.collier.k12.fl.us/math/mcE.htm