Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Choose the operation for a word problem
Multiplication and division
CCSS 3.OA.A.3CCSS 3.OA.D.8England: Y3 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Choose the operation for a word problem.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Multiplication and division word problems; Column addition and subtraction
Leads to: Two-step word problems using all four operations
Materials: Counters for arrays, Multiplication grid, Base-ten blocks, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Multiplication and division word problems; Column addition and subtraction). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- A small theatre has 6 rows of seats with 4 seats in each row. How many seats are there? → 24Prompt: Equal rows: is this multiplication or division?
- Use column addition: 1517 + 4570 → 6087Prompt: Line up the digits by place value, ones under ones.
- Ravi has 28 photos to put in an album. Each page holds 4 photos. How many pages will Ravi fill? → 7Prompt: How many groups of the page size fit into the total?
Hook · 3 min
- Show an array of chairs, eggs or windows and ask how many there are without counting one by one.
- Share the objective: Choose the operation for a word problem. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which operation solves this? Omar has 54 oranges and gives away 9. How many are left?
- Step 1: 54 − 9 = 45
- Step 2: So you subtract; the answer is 45.
- Step 3: subtract
- Answer: subtract
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which operation solves this? Zoe has 28 oranges and buys 4 more. How many now? (multiply / divide / add / subtract) → addPrompt: Are you joining, taking away, making equal groups or sharing?
- Elena reads 9 pages every day for 4 days. Which number sentence gives the total pages? (36 ÷ 4 / 4 × 9 / 9 − 4 / 4 + 9) → 4 × 9Prompt: The same number of pages is read each day.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which operation solves this? Jamal has 48 oranges and buys 8 more. How many now? (multiply / divide / add / subtract) → addPrompt: Are you joining, taking away, making equal groups or sharing?
- Arjun reads 9 pages every day for 4 days. Which number sentence gives the total pages? (36 ÷ 4 / 4 + 9 / 9 − 4 / 4 × 9) → 4 × 9Prompt: The same number of pages is read each day.
Watch out for
- Thinking multiplying always makes a number bigger.
- Dropping a zero in long multiplication when moving to the tens row.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Multiplication and division word problems.
- Use concrete materials: counters for arrays.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Two-step word problems using all four operations.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder