Math Resources

Dear Grade 3 Parents,

We just started our new Unit 5 in Math: Geometry.

Memorization is NOT a goal in the case of vocabulary words and multiplication facts. We encourage you to discuss the ideas and concepts through hands-on activities and conversations (in the home language) about how we use math in our daily lives. 

- We encourage to make connections with your home language to help understand the concept.

In this unit students will: 

• Further develop understandings of geometric figures by focusing on identification and descriptions of plane figures based on geometric properties. 

• Identify examples and non-examples of plane figures based on geometric properties. 

• Identify differences among quadrilaterals. 

• Understand that shapes in different categories may share attributes and those attributes can define a larger category (example: rhombuses, rectangles, and others have four sides and are all called quadrilaterals). Expand the ability to see geometry in the real world. 

• Draw plane figure shapes based on attributes.  

• Use data collected to make bar and picture graphs. 

• Find the perimeter of polygons; use addition to find perimeters; solve for an unknown length and recognize the patterns that exist when finding the sum of the lengths and widths of rectangles. 

• Third Grade students will describe, analyze, and compare the properties of two-dimensional shapes. They compare and classify shapes by their sides and angles, and connect these with definitions of shapes. 

VOCABULARY:

Visual Mathematics Online Dictionary: This resource includes definitions, pictures, examples, and related words for mathematical vocabulary. 

Congruent: Shapes that have the same size and shape

Parallelogram: A quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides and two pairs of equal sides

Polygon: A closed, 2-D figure with straight lines

Quadrilateral: A polygon with four sides

Rectangle: A 2-D figure with 4 sides and 4 right angles, opposite sides are parallel

Rhombus: A 2-D figure with 4 equal sides and 4 angles (not necessarily equal), opposite sides are parallel

Square: A 2-D figure with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles

Trapezoid: A 2-D figure that has 4 sides and 4 angles, one pair of sides is parallel

Right angle: An angle that forms a square corner

Vocabulary terms to talk at home for discussion in your home language to encourage language transfer background knowledge from language 1 to English concepts.

ACTIVITIES AT HOME:

Use grid paper to create congruent shapes.

Identify, describe, and classify different household objects as solid figures.

Identify angles that are less than, equal to and greater than right angles.

Use tangrams to make plane figures.

Cut pieces of yarn to make line segments. Measure each segment in inches (to the nearest quarter inch) and centimeters.

Go stargazing and make imaginary line segments by connecting the stars (points). Create geometric shapes.

Go on a shape hunt! Look for geometric shapes in your home and community. Create a chart to show your findings.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

Shape Sorter: using properties to identify shapes

Geometric Matching: identifying shapes through matching

Khan Academy: 3rd Grade Math topics

Happy learning!

The Grade 3 Team