Bridges Grade 3
Math Content
The following content strands are featured in Bridges Grade 3 lessons and are spiraled throughout the curriculum:
- Computation & Number
- Algebraic Thinking
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Data Analysis & Probability
- Money & Place Value
- Measuring
What They're Saying
In more than 20 years of teaching elementary math I have used a range of traditional and standards-based curricula in several states and two countries. I have never before had the level of success that I have experienced using Bridges. This success was reflected in both exceptional test scores as well as the growth I witnessed on a daily basis.
- Grade 3 Teacher, Madras, OR
See also:
Grades 3-5 Competencies and Experiences »
Bridges Grade 3 Expectations and Content Synopsis »
Bridges Grade 3 Scope and Sequence »
The Grade 3 Year
Third graders begin the year by reviewing the basic addition and subtraction facts. An emphasis on patterns among those facts and on strategies for solving them promotes the development of computational fluency and algebraic reasoning. In Unit Two, students spend about two weeks considering the base five counting system to set a strong foundation in regrouping and place value. This understanding allows them to invent efficient, accurate, and flexible methods for completing multi-digit computations in a variety of problem solving contexts.
By winter third graders investigate 2- and 3-dimensional geometry and develop strategies for solving basic multiplication facts. Their introduction to fractions involves a variety of hands-on experiences and models, including area models, set models, length models, and more. Games played in pairs and as a whole group provide ongoing exposure to complex probability concepts. A yearlong series of Work Places (workstation activities) provides hands-on experience measuring length, capacity, weight, and mass. Students also make regular use of the calculator as a problem-solving tool.
The third grade curriculum materials include a wide variety of interdisciplinary connections and culminate with an integrated science unit on bridge design in which students learn about bridges from around the world, design and test their own bridges, and analyze class data to draw conclusions about the design elements of successful bridges. Students increase their communication skills via mathematical journal writing, exposure to new vocabulary, and the integration of various forms of literature: poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.
Third grade Bridges features pre- and post-assessments that allow teachers to track the development of students' conceptual understanding and facility with key skills over time. Rubrics and anchor papers are provided to assist teachers with assessment scoring. Quick fluency and skills checkups are also provided, and all units feature guidance about collecting work samples, looking at student work, and interviewing select students as needed.
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