Unit Plan 27 (Grade 3 Math): Problem Strings—Fractions, Measurement, and Graphs
Daily problem strings build flexible strategies with fractions, elapsed time, mass/volume, and graphs—boosting reasoning, benchmark use, unit precision, and quick comparison skills.
Focus: Short daily routines (“problem strings”) mixing fraction comparisons, elapsed time, mass/volume contexts, and graph questions to strengthen strategy, flexibility, and explanation.
Grade Level: 3
Subject Area: Mathematics (Number & Operations—Fractions • Measurement & Data)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students engage in rapid, connected prompts that spotlight patterns and strategies across topics. Each string nudges learners to reason with benchmarks for fractions, track elapsed time on a number line, compute mass/volume changes, and read graphs to compare and justify.
Essential Questions
- How do quick, connected problems help me notice patterns and choose efficient strategies?
- Which representations (number lines, fraction strips, timelines, bar/picture graphs) make my thinking clearer?
- How can I check reasonableness quickly during a routine?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Compare and reason about fractions using unit fractions, benchmarks (0, 1/2, 1), and number lines.
- Solve and explain elapsed time problems using forward/backward timelines to the minute.
- Model and solve mass/volume problems (add/subtract in context; attend to units).
- Draw/interpret simple picture/bar graphs and answer “how many more/fewer?” questions.
- Communicate clearly during problem strings: state a strategy, cite evidence, and revise for precision.
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 3
- 3.NF.1–3: Fractions as numbers; number line representations; equivalence and comparison by reasoning.
- 3.MD.1: Tell/write time to the minute; solve elapsed time problems.
- 3.MD.2: Solve one- and two-step mass/volume word problems using the four operations; use mL/L, g/kg.
- 3.MD.3: Draw picture/bar graphs (single-unit scale) and solve “how many more/less” problems.
- Mathematical Practices: MP.1–MP.6 threaded (make sense, reason quantitatively, argue, model, tools, precision).
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can compare fractions using benchmarks and explain my choice.
- I can find elapsed time on a timeline and tell what each jump means.
- I can keep units straight when solving mass/volume problems.
- I can read a graph and answer “how many more/fewer?” with a clear explanation.