3rd grade math

What 3rd graders learn in math

The Common Core puts most of grade 3 into four areas: multiplication and division within 100, fractions as numbers, area, and two-dimensional shapes. By the end of the year, children should know all the times tables up to 10 × 10 from memory.

Adding and subtracting within 1,000 should become fluent too. Those skills were introduced in grade 2, and children who are still shaky with them find multiplication harder.

3rd grade math skills, in order

What mastery looks like by the end of the year

• Answers any times table fact up to 10 × 10 in a few seconds, without counting.
• Solves 56 ÷ 7 by thinking “7 times what is 56?”
• Adds and subtracts 3-digit numbers with regrouping, including across zeros like 503 − 178.
• Shows 3/4 on a number line and explains why 1/8 is smaller than 1/4.
• Finds the area of a rectangle by multiplying, and knows it is different from the perimeter.
• Tells time to the minute and works out how long it is from 2:45 to 3:20.

Signs your child needs extra help

• Still counts on fingers for facts within 20, or skip-counts slowly to find a times table fact.
• Makes regrouping mistakes in 3-digit subtraction, such as taking the smaller digit from the bigger one.
• Thinks 1/8 is bigger than 1/4 “because 8 is bigger”.
• Mixes up area and perimeter.
• Can do multiplication facts but freezes on word problems that need them.

Times tables are the most common gap and the most fixable: five minutes a day for a few weeks makes a large difference. The Math Galaxy practice game and the times table worksheets below are built for exactly that.

Try a 3rd grade math problem

Tap a question to see the answer and how to get it.

3rd grade math worksheets

Each one is a free PDF with an answer key and its own page with a preview, tips and a button to make a new version.

• Multiplication factsGrade 3
• Mixed times tablesGrades 3–4
• Division factsGrade 3
• 3-digit additionGrades 2–3
• 3-digit subtractionGrades 2–3
• Rounding numbersGrades 3–4
• Telling timeGrades 1–3
• PerimeterGrade 3
• Area of rectanglesGrades 3–4
• 3 times tableGrade 3
• 4 times tableGrade 3
• 6 times tableGrade 3
• 7 times tableGrade 3
• 8 times tableGrade 3
• 9 times tableGrade 3

More 3rd grade PDFs

• Elapsed timeGrades 2–3
• Fact familiesGrades 1–3
• Expanded formGrades 2–3
• Word problems, grades 2–3Mixed
• Mixed review, grades 2–3Check for gaps

3rd grade math lessons and charts

• Times tablesHow to learn them
• Multiplication factsEqual groups and arrays
• Division factsThe reverse of multiplying
• 3-digit subtractionBorrowing, step by step
• FractionsWhere fractions begin
• AreaCounting squares, then multiplying
• Multiplication chartTimes tables to 12
• Fractions chartFraction wall

How to help with 3rd grade math at home

Five minutes of times tables a day

Pick one table a week. Say it forwards, backwards and mixed up in the car or at breakfast. Short and daily beats long and weekly.

Cook with fractions

Half a cup, a quarter teaspoon: recipes make fractions real. Cut a pizza or sandwich into equal parts and name them.

Use an analog clock

Ask the time on a clock with hands, and how long until dinner or bedtime. Elapsed time is a big grade 3 skill.

Measure area with tiles

Count floor tiles or squares on a board game, then show that rows × columns gives the same answer.

See 2nd grade math for the skills that lead into this year, and 4th grade math for what comes next.