Grade 3 Math Curriculum

Family-facing version of the grade 3 math curriculum

Quarterly Overview of Grade 3 Mathematics

The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.

Units and Details

Unit 1: Data, Time, and Temperature

Students will:

  • Tell time to the nearest minute, using analog and digital clocks.
  • Read temperature to the nearest degree.
  • Collect, organize, and represent data in pictographs or bar graphs.
  • Read and interpret data represented in pictographs and bar graphs.

Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction Part 1

Students will:

  • Read, write, and identify the place and value of each digit in a four digit whole number, with and without models. 
  • Round whole numbers, 999 or less, to the nearest ten and hundred.
  • Compare and order whole numbers, each 999 or less.
  • Estimate and determine the sum or difference of two whole numbers.
  • Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving sums or differences of two whole numbers, each 999 or less.
  • Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables.
  • Create equations to represent equivalent mathematical relationships.

Unit 3: Multiplication and Division Part 1

Students will: 

  • Represent multiplication and division through 10 × 10, using a variety of approaches and models.
  • Create and solve single-step practical problems that involve multiplication and division through 10 x 10.
  • Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables.
  • Create equations to represent equivalent mathematical relationships.

Unit 4: Fractions Part 1

Students will:

  • Name and write fractions and mixed numbers represented by a model.
  • Represent fractions and mixed numbers with models and symbols.
  • Compare fractions having like and unlike denominators, using words and symbols (>, <, =. Or ≠), with models.

Unit 5: Geometry

Students will: 

  • Identify and draw representations of points, lines, line segments, rays, and angles.
  • Define polygon.
  • Identify and name polygons with 10 or fewer sides.
  • Combine and subdivide polygons with three or four sides and name the resulting polygon(s).
  • Identify and describe congruent and noncongruent figures.
  • Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables.

Unit 6: Multiplication and Division Part 2

Students will: 

  • Represent multiplication and division through 10 × 10, using a variety of approaches and models.
  • Create and solve single-step practical problems that involve multiplication and division through 10 x 10.
  • Identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables.
  • Create equations to represent equivalent mathematical relationships.

Unit 7: Addition and Subtraction Part 2

Students will: 

  • Read, write, and identify the place and value of each digit in a six-digit whole number, with and without models.
  • Round whole numbers, 9,999 or less, to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand.
  • Compare and order whole numbers, each 9,999 or less.
  • Estimate and determine the sum or difference of two whole numbers.
  • Create and solve single-step and multistep practical problems involving sums or differences of two whole numbers, each 9,999 or less.
  • Determine the value of a collection of bills and coins whose total value is $5.00 or less.
  • Compare the value of two sets of coins or two sets of coins and bills.
  • Make change from $5.00 or less.
  • Solve practical problems related to elapsed time in one-hour increments within a 12-hour period.
  • Identify equivalent periods of time and solve practical problems related to equivalent periods of time.

Unit 8: Measurement

Students will: 

  • Estimate and use U.S. Customary and metric units to measure length to the nearest half inch, inch, foot, yard, centimeter, and meter.
  • Estimate and use U.S. Customary and metric units to measure liquid volume in cups, pints, quarts, gallons, and liters.
  • Estimate and measure the distance around a polygon in order to determine its perimeter using U.S. Customary and metric units.
  • Estimate and count the number of square units needed to cover a given surface in order to determine its area.

Unit 9: Fractions Part 2

Students will: 

  • Solve practical problems that involve addition and subtraction with proper fractions having like denominators of 12 or less.

Unit 10: Multiplication and Division Part 3

Students will: 

  • Represent multiplication and division through 10 × 10, using a variety of approaches and models.
  • Create and solve single-step practical problems that involve multiplication and division through 10 x 10.
  • Demonstrate fluency with multiplication facts of 0, 1, 2, 5, and 10.
  • Solve single-step practical problems involving multiplication of whole numbers, where one factor is 99 or less and the second factor is 5 or less.
  • Create equations to represent equivalent mathematical relationships.

Unit 11: Probability

Students will: 

  • Investigate and describe the concept of probability as a measurement of chance and list possible outcomes for a single event.

Unit 12: Moving Forward and Digging Deeper

In this unit, teachers will provide differentiated opportunities for students to review previous content and explore content at a deeper level.

Virginia Department of Education Resources

Assessments

Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.

  • Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
    • Check for understanding 
    • Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
  • Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for the next steps in instruction.

For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.

In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), grade 3 tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.

Looking for other grade 3 information?