This page provides examples of 3rd Grade Measurement and Data Activities aligned with the Common Core State Standards.
These activities are designed to elicit a range of responses and
provide opportunities for students to communicate their reasoning and
mathematical thinking. All activities are suitable for use in Math Centers, small group
or whole class settings. Instructions for each task are typed in large
print and written in child-friendly language to enable students to work
on activities independently after a brief introduction to the task. All
files for the 3rd Grade Measurement and Data Activities listed are in
PDF format and can be accessed using Adobe Reader. For examples of 4th and 5th Grade Measurement and Data Activities see the links below.
Solve problems involving measurement and estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes, and masses of objects. 3.MD1 Tell and write time to the nearest minute and measure time
intervals in minutes. Solve word problems involving addition and
subtraction of time intervals in minutes, e.g., by representing the
problem on a number line diagram. Elapsed Time Ruler Elapsed Time Word Problems
3.MD2 Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects
using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), and liters (l). Add,
subtract, multiply, or divide to solve one-step word problems involving
masses or volumes that are given in the same units, e.g., by using
drawings (such as a beaker with a measurement scale) to represent the
problem.
Represent and interpret data 3.MD3 Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to
represent a date set with several categories. Solve one-and two step
“how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented
in scaled bar graphs. For example, draw a bar graph in which each
square in the bar graph might represent 5 pets. Possible Activities: Button Bar Graph Button Pictograph Jake's Survey Collecting and Representing DataTeam Data Project (subscriber contribution)
3.MD4 Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers
marked with halves and fourths of an inch. Show data by making a line
plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units-
whole numbers, halves, or quarters.
Geometric measurement 3.MD 5 Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement.
a. A square with side length 1 unit, called a “unit square”, is said to
have “one square unit” of area, and can be used to measure area.
b. A plane figure which can be covered without gaps or overlaps by n unit squares is said to have an area of n square units. Possible Activities: Exploring Area Area on the Geoboard
3.MD7 Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition.
a. Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths by tiling
it, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying
the side lengths.
b. Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole-number
side lengths in the context of solving real world and mathematical
problems, and represent whole-number products as rectangular areas in
mathematical reasoning. Possible Activities: Developing a Formula for the Area of a Rectangle Area Word Problems
c. Use tiling to show in a concrete case that the area of a rectangle
with whole-number side lengths a and b + c is the sum of axb and axc.
Use area models to represent the distributive property in mathematical
reasoning. Possible Activities: Jack's Rectangles
d. Recognize area as additive. Find areas of rectilinear figures by
decomposing them into non-overlapping rectangles and adding the areas of
the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world
problems. Possible Activities: Designing a Flower Bed Area of Irregular Figures Rectangular Robot
