Understanding how our ten number system works enables students to see interesting and useful patterns and relationships in these math activities. These patterns allow students to develop more efficient mental math strategies when multiplying by multiples of 10 or 100. Students will also review rounding and apply this skill to larger numbers - up to 100,000’s place.

Multiplication is essentially repeated addition, or growing numbers by doubling, tripling, quadrupling, and so on. This unit presents mental models and strategies that help students learn and review the concept of multiplication. Students explore multiplication using arrays, partial products, doubling methods and the standard algorithm to solve numerical and word problems. Students will multiply whole numbers and simple decimals by base ten exponents (i.e. .3 x 103).

Understanding our base-ten number system is the foundation for many skills to come. In this unit, students will add on to their understanding of place value and extend to the millions! They will also learn how to read, write and order larger numbers, in addition to decimals to the tenths and hundredths.

Teaching number sense gives kids a deeper understanding of our number system, which will in turn prepare them for the algebraic equations to come in the upper elementary grades and middle school. You can create a strong foundational knowledge of number sense with this guided lesson, which provides third graders with targeted instruction and exercises designed by our team of curriculum experts.