Sometimes, we all just need a quick go-to activity to start off a unit, as a review on an off-day, or something to leave for the substitute. I’ve got you covered in this free resource round-up! These are all free 3rd grade math activities you can easily use in your classroom anytime.
Freebie #1
I start off teaching multiplication at the beginning of each year. This is the perfect lesson when you first start teaching division because it shows the relationship between multiplication and division. Students are able to glue this mini-lesson in your notebook to refer back to. You can use this as an introduction to division where you show students that division is the exact opposite of multiplication and you can use each strategy to solve both operations!
Find this multiplication and division strategies freebie here.
Freebie #2
The second math unit I normally teach is rounding to the nearest 10 and 100 within 1000. This is an awesome activity to pull out on your first day of rounding because it lets students get hands-on practice rounding numbers. There are so many great free 3rd grade math activities out there and this is a fun one to use!
It includes a worksheet, a hundreds chart, and a game. Students first practice rounding numbers to the nearest 10 on their worksheet using the hundreds table. They are able to see exactly what ten each number rounds to using this manipulative. Then, they play a table group game using the provided sheet.
See everything included in this rounding freebie right here:
@thelifetimelearnerEasy way to introduce rounding! ##teacher ##teachertiktok ##rounding ##math ##mathgames ##worksheet ##freeproduct ##tpt♬ Super Mario Kart – Mario Circuit – 8-Bit Arcade
Freebie #3
I think when you teach geometry in 3rd grade varies around the country, but I love to teach it early on in the year. This allows my students the entire year to spiral review shape names and how to classify them. Geometry can be a really tricky concept and I find that teaching it closer to the beginning of the year is more beneficial for my class because they need the repetition with geometry terms yearlong to become confident in their geometry skills. In this freebie, students play a game with geometric shapes and have to remember the properties of different polygons in order to give out points!
Freebie #4
After Christmas, I start my area and perimeter unit. This free resource is perfect when you’re a few days into the area unit and students have a basic understanding of area. I like to use it during math centers or when students finish their assignments for the day. In this freebie, students get to create their own design and find the area of the figure. It brings out a lot of students’ creative sides and lets them ease back into our routine after the winter break.
Freebie #5
After our area and perimeter unit, I move onto teaching fractions. We go through identifying fractions, fractions on a number line, and then move on to equivalent fractions. This is a great “first day of equivalent fractions” freebie because students can see how fractions are equal to one another while using this sheet. You could even turn it into a mini room transformation and have students wear pizza hats while filling out the page.
Freebie #6
And, when you’re done teaching equivalent fractions, and ready to teach comparing fractions, I’ve got you covered with this free 3rd grade math activity! This comparing fractions mini-lesson shows students four strategies for how to compare fractions in third grade. The strategies include number lines, cross multiplying, with pictures, and with fraction strips. Some teachers like to teach equivalent fractions and how to compare fractions at the same time. You could use this during a unit on comparing fractions or a combined unit on both!
Freebie #7
Towards the end of the year, I teach a math unit on telling time. This telling time freebie is perfect for getting students to practice telling time to the minute in a silly way. It comes with 24 free task cards that have monsters and robots on each one. Every monster or robot has a funny way of asking students to tell what the time is. It’s also great practice with AM/PM and time phrases such as “quarter till 5”.
Freebie #8
You also need freebies you can use anytime of the year and this one is GREAT for small groups or math centers. I have found that a lot of 3rd graders still need practice with their basic math facts. In this math spoons game, students practice their addition facts while having fun at the same time! If you haven’t heard of math spoons, you can learn how to play here.
I hope you found these free 3rd grade math activities helpful and try them out in your 3rd grade classroom. Do you teach another grade? You may enjoy my Classroom Transformations for Grades K-5. Read all about them here:
Kindergarten Classroom Transformations
1st Grade Classroom Transformations
2nd Grade Classroom Transformations
3rd Grade Classroom Transformations
4th Grade Classroom Transformations
5th Grade Classroom Transformations
