Finding appropriate worksheets and activities that fit third grade math standards can get frustrating. The comprehensive and rigorous 3rd grade Mindful Math curriculum is the perfect tool for your teaching needs.
3rd Grade Math with the Mindful Math Curriculum
There were many times when I felt like I could not figure out how to teach a mathematical concept in a way that was engaging and effective and ensured students understood the math concept on a deeper level than just memorization.
When I was in elementary school, I remember learning many “math tricks,” or things that just made math easier. But, I never understood why the tricks worked or what they really all meant. I knew my students needed a deeper understanding of conceptual knowledge, and I wanted to figure out how to get them there.
That is why I developed a math curriculum with a child’s mind at the center of it all.
Today, we’re diving into 3rd grade math, and I will introduce the Mindful Math Program. This wonderful curriculum brings excitement and effectiveness to your math block. Planning your math lessons and activities is about to get much easier and more enjoyable.
What exactly is the Mindful Math Program?
Mindful Math is a math curriculum designed for Kindergarten through third grade. Each grade level consists of 10 comprehensive units, each containing 10+ lessons. The aim is to help students with essential concepts and standards that all young learners need to learn throughout elementary school.
Each unit within this math curriculum is a resource that is focused on nurturing cognitive skills. It also equips educators with a complete toolkit, eliminating the need for additional materials from external sources.
The Mindful Math curriculum has opportunities for students to learn in many different ways, from specific teacher-led lessons to hands-on activities.
By using Mindful Math, you’re teaching mathematical knowledge and nurturing confident and fluent math thinkers—students who do not just memorize formulas but have a solid mathematical foundation.
What is included in the 3rd Grade Mindful Math Program?
The Mindful Math Third Grade program is made up of 10 units. These units cover the standards and skills that third graders need to learn and develop fluency with. Each unit helps teachers teach kids the math they should know in third grade. This program is like a special guide for teachers to make sure students really understand and do well in math.
Each unit has fun math activities, hands-on lessons that can be easily broken down into math mini-lessons, and much more. They are designed to make learning math interesting and engaging. Students will get to solve problems, use their brains, and work with peers to learn together as a whole group or in math small groups.
The curriculum is aligned with educational standards like the U.S. Common Core standards and integrates with Canadian math curriculums, specifically those in British Columbia and Ontario. Moreover, its adaptability extends to math curriculums worldwide, making it a versatile tool for all teachers.
The 10 math units cover all topics taught in third grade, including:
- Number sense
- Addition & subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
- Fractions
- time and measurement
- Geometry
- Data and probability
- Money and financial literacy
- Algebra
You won’t be searching the internet for quick worksheets and activities to cover the 3rd-grade math topics anymore!
3rd Grade Mindful Math Curriculum Breakdown
This 3rd grade math curriculum is not just worksheets and posters. This is a comprehensive program with everything you need to succeed!
3rd Grade Math Lesson Plans
The 3rd grade math curriculum comes with detailed lesson plans that include information on standards, opening activities, math talks, whole group lessons, and more.
Lesson Materials and Posters
This curriculum is fully equipped with all the materials for effective teaching and student practice. Within its resources, you’ll find an array of math manipulatives and tools, including charts, number lines, and base ten blocks. These tools will help increase engagement and understanding!
Additionally, there are ‘I Can’ posters to help foster a growth mindset and make the goal and standards clear. These cards are written with 3rd graders in mind and have a language students can easily understand and figure out.
Another great resource available in the 3rd grade math curriculum is vocabulary cards. When students hit 3rd grade, there is much more vocabulary than in previous grades. Use vocabulary cards to hang on a math bulletin board or attach a magnet to place each card on a whiteboard. Having the vocabulary available to students allows them to focus on math and check for understanding as needed.
Mindful Math Math Talks
Math talks are a great whole group, small group, or partner exercise that allows students to think deeply about a topic and discuss it with their peers. Discussion-based learning often increases understanding and allows students to view and learn different math-based strategies in action. Including talking prompts like “I disagree with” or “I agree because” will further the discussion.
3rd Grade Math Task Cards
Mindful Math task cards can be used as a short math warm-up activity or even an exit ticket that students complete independently. There are a variety of tasks that build on skills previously taught in other lessons to build fluency. They encourage students to be mindful and focus on mathematical thinking.
Math Journal Prompts
There are many options when it comes to math journal prompts. They can be used as a warm-up activity, extra practice, or homework. Each prompt reviews the skills and concepts taught in the previous lesson. They make a great review activity!
Mental Math Flashcards
Flashcards are a great way to help students build their mental math skills and quick recall. They can be used in small groups, during whole group activities, with partners, or as a math center. Each lesson includes directions on how they work and how to introduce them to students within the lesson plan.
3rd Grade Math Worksheets
In Mindful Math, every lesson comes with independent math practice pages that students can do on their own after the lesson. These pages help them improve in math and remember important things they learned. And the best part is these pages have different levels of difficulty so that everyone can find the right challenge!
Mindful Math Hands-On Activities, Games, and Centers
In this 3rd grade math curriculum, there are also opportunities for students to complete math activities on their own, in small groups, or with partners.
There are fun math games, math centers, and interactive worksheets. Students can complete alone or with a friend.
These activities have been tried and loved by students, too! Each lesson in the program has different games and centers, so everyone can join in and feel accomplished, no matter how they like to learn.
Pre, Post, and Quick 3rd-Grade Math Assessments
After a lesson, you may choose to have students complete a quick check math assessment. They do a quick activity by themselves or with a small group, and then they’ll show you what they’ve completed. It’s a way to see how well they understand the math and what they need further help with.
There are also pre and post-assessments available to you. Pre-assessments give us an idea of what students already know about the mathematical topic and what their ability level is. It is a great tool when creating small groups or partners or planning lesson questions. Post-assessments are also included to show what students learned during the lesson. There are also unit tests available for each unit.
How to Make the Most of the Mindful Math Program
Let’s map out a timeline for effectively using the 3rd-Grade Mindful Math Program. I recommend dedicating a month to teaching one unit of Mindful Math. This allows teachers to have a unique unit for every month throughout the school year.
When it comes to teaching, considering the content load. Try introducing a new lesson every other day. This pacing ensures that there is enough time to give in to the content, engage in activities, and practice, making each lesson a two-day affair. This extended time frame not only accommodates repeated practice but also helps with the development of fluency in mathematical concepts.
Possible Math Block Breakdown
Each lesson broken down will take approximately 45-60 minutes. This includes the warm-up, mental math, and whole-group lesson. However, this can vary based on the specific lesson and the student’s grasp of the material.
Providing hands-on practice is important, and ensure there is time to provide it. Other components like independent practice, centers, and games should be factored in on top of this time frame. This program gives the flexibility to stretch a lesson when needed in a math block.
To break down a lesson, here’s a suggested plan:
- Day 1 (45-60 minutes): Begin with warm-up activities involving task cards and math journal exercises. Follow this with mental math and a whole group lesson to introduce the main concept.
- Day 2 (45-60 minutes): Start with mental math to reinforce previous learning. Then, proceed to independent practice and engage in hands-on activities such as centers and games. Wrap up with quick checks to gauge understanding.
It’s important to remember that you can cover only some of the aspects of every lesson. Instead, use the various materials to cater to student’s needs and tailor the approach to accommodate diverse learners.
For more insights into structuring your math block effectively, explore my post on guided math schedules and planning templates. This resource will further enhance your ability to make the most of the Mindful Math Program.
Getting Organized
Let’s talk about getting everything in shipshape for the Mindful Math journey. Each unit comes with detailed guidance on how to use and prepare each component of the program.
Printing Made Easy:
Before diving in, get the printing game on point. Make sure to print out each component of the Mindful Math program in advance. To ensure durability and longevity, consider printing activities, posters, task cards, and quick checks on white or colored cardstock. Laminate and cut the materials so they’re all set for your lessons.
Binders for Bliss:
Streamline organization with binders. Create one for each unit of Mindful Math, using the provided covers and spines for a consistent look. These binders can be neatly kept together on a shelf or stored in bins alongside other necessary materials.
Inside each binder, stash the lesson plans, blackline masters of practice printables and journal prompts, and lesson materials in zipper pouches or plastic holders—your call on what works best.
Smart Student Setup:
Prepare student workbooks for each unit, housing the practice printables you want them to complete. Craft these workbooks using the student workbook covers for a polished touch. For journal prompts and practice printables, make use of Math journals or notebooks (shrink and print pages as needed).
Get Hands-On with Manipulatives:
Math manipulatives are key players here. They make learning more concrete and engaging. If you have them, great! If not, you can print and use the provided lesson materials. Hands-on learning at its finest!
Bins for the Win:
Bins or tubs are always helpful. Use them to corral everything in one spot. Prepare each bin to hold math manipulatives, binders, student workbooks, and math picture books—each unit’s essentials are neatly contained.
FAQs Answered
Does this program cover all Common Core standards?
Yes! Mindful Math’s 10-unit bundle covers all Common Core standards for K-3. However, you can supplement it as needed to tailor it to your class or students.
How about the Canadian curriculum?
Mindful Math aligns with the BIG Ideas curriculum in British Columbia and the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum. Note that coding is not included for Ontario Grade 2, but the rest of the updated curriculum (2020) syncs well.
Do I have to buy the entire bundle?
Nope! Each unit stands alone, covering different math topics in K-3.
Can I pick and choose lessons?
Absolutely! Customize your approach by using the components and lessons that best suit your needs and time constraints.
How can I differentiate with Mindful Math?
Plenty of opportunities! The curriculum offers various practice levels, activities, games, and centers for both independent and small group learning.
Starting mid-year?
No worries! Begin with the unit you need. The unit setup makes starting at any point in the school year a breeze. So go ahead, jump right in!
Teaching 3rd grade math can be challenging, but your life will become much easier with the 3rd Grade Mindful Math Curriculum!
3rd Grade Mindful Math Curriculum
Try the 3rd Grade Mindful Math Curriculum by Proud to be Primary. It includes a variety of resources to ensure your students learn everything they need to know!
It includes:
- 10 math units covering all topics taught in third grade grade (number sense, addition & subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, time and measurement, geometry, data and probability, money and financial literacy, and algebra).
- Thousands of pages FULL of lesson plans, materials, activities, and more!
- 100 comprehensive, jam-packed lessons (Each lesson will likely take 2+ days to complete fully, making this a full-year resource!)
These third grade math resources will help put you in the right direction when it comes to teaching this year!
If you like this resource, take a look at my other Mindful Math Curriculums for K-2.
Free addition and subtraction lessons & activities
Try the 3rd Grade Mindful Math Curriculum in your classroom with this FREE addition and subtraction sample lesson!
Click the image below to grab a copy.
More Math Ideas for the Classroom
addition and subtraction fact fluency
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