In third grade, we have been diving into hands-on math activities. The students have been exploring using manipulatives like base ten blocks to build up to 4 digit numbers. By using these blocks to create the numbers, it is providing a visual model of the representational numbers. We started back with basics with understanding the place value of numbers. Students practiced this by rolling a 10-side dice to create a 3 digit number. Then, they used their base ten blocks to build the number.
After we established the place value of numbers, we were able to start adding 3-4 digit numbers. Students started by building their number out of base ten blocks. Then, they built the second addend. If they made a group of 10 ones, they regrouped them and exchanged the ones blocks for a ten rod. Similarly, when they made a group of 10 ten rods, they exchanged them for a hundred flat. By doing this, students are getting a visual of what happens when we add using standard algorithm and have to regroup and carry over the “1” into the next column. Once they had done all their regrouping, they were able to count up how many hundreds, tens, and ones were left to find their sum.
Stepping away from the textbooks and getting our hands messy with math manipulatives is so important when building these foundational math skills. The skills that the students learned in kindergarten, first, and second grade like fact fluency, all play a vital role in their developing skills in third grade. Likewise, the skills that we work on in third grade will help them as they start learning more abstract math concepts in their higher education.
