critical thinking math 3rd grade

Check Out the New Website Shop!

Novels & Picture Books

Anchor Charts

• Critical Thinking

How To Encourage Critical Thinking in Math

By Mary Montero

Share This Post:

• Facebook Share
• Twitter Share
• Pinterest Share
• Email Share

Critical thinking is more than just a buzzword… It’s an essential skill that helps students develop problem-solving abilities and make logical connections between different concepts. By encouraging critical thinking in math, students learn to approach problems more thoughtfully, they learn to analyze and evaluate math concepts, identify patterns and relationships, and explore different strategies for finding the solution. Critical thinking also involves a great deal of persistence. Those are critical life skills!

When you think about it, students are typically asked to solve math problems and find the answer. Showing their work is frequently stressed too, which is important, but not the end. Instead, students need to be able to look at math in different ways in order to truly grasp a complete understanding of math concepts. Mathematics requires logical reasoning, problem-solving, and abstract thinking.

What Does Critical Thinking in Math Look Like?

When I think about critical thinking in math, I focus on:

• Solving problems through logical thinking . Students learn how to break down complex problems, analyze the different parts, and understand how they fit together logically.
• Identifying patterns and making connections. Students learn how to identify patterns across different math concepts, make connections between seemingly unrelated topics, and develop a more in-depth understanding of how math works.
• Evaluating and comparing solutions. Students learn to evaluate which solution is best for a given problem and identify any flaws in their reasoning or others’ reasoning when looking at different solutions

Mathematician Posters

These FREE Marvelous Mathematician posters have been a staple in my classroom for the last 8+ years! I first started using a version from MissMathDork and adapted them for my classroom over the years. 

I print, laminate, and add magnetic stickers on the back. At the beginning of the year, I only put one or two up at a time depending on our area of focus. Now, they are all hanging on my board, and I’ll pull out different ones depending on our area of focus. They are so empowering to my mathematicians and help them stay on track!

A Marvelous Mathematician:

• knows that quicker doesn’t mean better
• looks for patterns
• knows mistakes happen and keeps going
• makes sense of the most important details
• embraces challenges and works through frustrations
• uses proper math vocabulary to explain their thinking
• shows their work and models their thinking
• discusses solutions and evaluates reasonableness
• gives context by labeling answers
• applies mathematical knowledge to similar situations
• checks for errors (computational and conceptual)

Critical Thinking Math Activities

Here are a few of my favorite critical thinking activities. 

Square Of Numbers

I love to incorporate challenge problems (use Nrich and Openmiddle to get started) because they teach my students so much more than how to solve a math problem. They learn important lessons in teamwork, persistence, resiliency, and growth mindset. We talk about strategies for tackling difficult problems and the importance of not giving up when things get hard.

This square of numbers challenge was a hit!

ALL kids need to feel and learn to embrace challenge. Oftentimes, kids I see have rarely faced an academic challenge. Things have just come easy to them, so when it doesn’t, they can lack strategies that will help them. In fact, they will often give up before they even get started.

I tell them it’s my job to make sure I’m helping them stretch and grow their brain by giving them challenges. They don’t love it at first, but they eventually do! 

This domino challenge was another one from Nrich . I’m always on the hunt for problems like this!!  How would you guide students toward an answer??

Fifteen Cards

This is a well-loved math puzzle with my students, and it’s amazing for encouraging students to consider all options when solving a math problem.

We have number cards 1-15 (one of each number) and only seven are laid out. With the given clues, students need to figure out which seven cards should be put out and in what order. My students love these, and after they’ve done a few, they enjoy creating their own, too! Use products, differences, and quotients to increase the challenge.

This is also adapted from Nrich, which is an AMAZING resource for math enrichment!

This is one of my favorite fraction lessons that I’ve done for years! Huge shout out to Meg from The Teacher Studio for this one. I give each child a slip of paper with this figure and they have to silently write their answer and justification. Then I tally up the answers and have students take a side and DEBATE with their reasoning! It’s an AMAZING conversation, and I highly recommend trying it with your students. 

Sometimes we leave it hanging overnight and work on visual models to make some proofs. 

Logic Puzzles

Logic puzzles are always a hit too! You can enrich and extend your math lessons with these ‘Math Mystery’ logic puzzles that are the perfect challenge for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. The puzzles are skills-based, so they integrate well with almost ANY math lesson. You can use them to supplement instruction or challenge your fast-finishers and gifted students… all while encouraging critical thinking about important math skills!

Three levels are included, so they’re perfect to use for differentiation.

• Introductory logic puzzles are great for beginners (4th grade and up!)
• Advanced logic puzzles are great for students needing an extra challenge
• Extra Advanced logic puzzles are perfect for expert solvers… we dare you to figure these puzzles out! 

Do you have a group of students who are ready for more of a fraction challenge? My well-loved fraction puzzlers are absolutely perfect for fraction enrichment. They’ll motivate your students to excel at even the most challenging tasks! 

Math Projects

Math projects are another way to differentiation while building critical thinking skills. Math projects hold so much learning power with their real-world connections, differentiation options, collaborative learning opportunities, and numerous avenues for cross curricular learning too. 

If you’re new to math projects, I shared my best tips and tricks for using math projects in this blog post . They’re perfect for cumulative review, seasonal practice, centers, early finisher work, and more.

I use both concept-based math projects to focus on specific standards and seasonal math projects that integrate several skills.

Error Analysis

Finally, error analysis is always a challenging way to encourage critical thinking. When we use error analysis, we encourage students to analyze their own mistakes to prevent making the same mistakes in the future.

For my gifted students, I use error analysis tasks as an assessment when they have shown mastery of a unit during other tasks. For students in the regular classroom needing enrichment, I usually have them complete the tasks in a center or with a partner.

For students needing extra support, we complete error analysis in small groups.  We go step-by-step through the concept and they are always able to eventually identify what the error is. It is so empowering to students when they finally figure out the error AND it helps prevent them from making the same error in the future!

My FREE addition error analysis is a good place to start, no matter the grade level. I show them the process of walking through the problem and how best to complete an error analysis task.

When you’re ready for more, this bundle of error analysis tasks contains more than 240 tasks to engage and enrich your students in critical thinking practice.

If you want to dig even deeper, visit this conceptual vs computational error analysis post to learn more about using error analysis in the classroom. 

Related Critical Thinking Posts

• How to Increase Critical Thinking and Creativity in Your “Spare” Time
• More Tips to Increase Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is essential for students to develop a deeper understanding of math concepts, problem-solving skills, and a stronger ability to reason logically. When you learn how to encourage critical thinking in math, you’re setting your students up for success not only in more advanced math subjects they’ll encounter, but also in life. 

How do you integrate critical thinking in your classroom? Come share your ideas with us in our FREE Inspired In Upper Elementary Facebook group .

Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

You might also like…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One Comment

Mary Thankyou for your inspirational activities. I have just read and loved the morning talk activities. I do have meetings with my students but usually at end of day. What time do you

©2023 Teaching With a Mountain View . All Rights Reserved | Designed by Ashley Hughes

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Lost your password?

Review Cart

No products in the cart.

Critical Thinking Grade 3 Worksheets

• Printable worksheets
• Educational videos
• Learning games

44 filtered results

• Extra Challenge
• Kindergarten
• Numbers  
• Addition & Subtraction  
• Measurement
• Multiplication  
• Word Problems  
• Punctuation
• 3 Little Pigs
• Holiday Coloring Pages  
• Fairy Tale Coloring Pages
• Reading Comprehension  
• Building Vocabulary  
• Governance and Civics
• Life Science
• Plants and Animals  
• Physical Science
• Our Planet and Environment
• Tracing Letters
• Tracing Lines and Curves
• Tracing Numbers
• Tracing Shapes
• Tracing Words
• Cursive Writing  
• Color by Numbers
• Connect the Dots
• Fairy Tales
• Problem Solving
• Black history
• Dinosaurs Day
• International Chess Day
• 4th of July
• Thanksgiving
• Alphabet  
• Math  
• Writing  
• Science  
• Reading  
• Social Studies  
• Maze Puzzles
• Connecting the Dots
• English Language Arts  

Enhance your third grader's problem-solving abilities with our engaging Critical Thinking worksheets! Designed specifically for Grade 3 students, these interactive resources promote logical reasoning, analytical skills, and creative thinking. Our comprehensive collection features fun puzzles, challenging exercises, and thought-provoking scenarios to stimulate young minds. As kids tackle various tasks, they develop essential skills that pay off in academics and everyday life. Our worksheets align with educational standards and foster a love for learning. Discover the perfect blend of education and fun with Kids Academy's Critical Thinking worksheets, ensuring your child gains the confidence to tackle any question that comes their way!

Check out this FREE Grade 3 "Critical Thinking" Trial Lesson!

Greek Mythology

• Critical Thinking

Reading Bar Graph Worksheet

Prometheus Story Worksheet

Amphibians vs Reptiles Worksheet for 3rd Grade

Tricky Problems Worksheet: Part 1

Folktales Printable PDF Worksheet: The 3 Little Pigs

Eagle Subtraction Worksheet

Thomas Jefferson and the 7’s Worksheet

Native American Word Search Printable

Am I a Mammal or Bird? Worksheet

Martin Luther King Worksheet

Studying Fossils Worksheet

Puss in Boots: Questions Worksheet

Word Problems: Assessment 1 Worksheet

Division Balance the Scale Worksheet

Two-Step Problems Worksheet

The Big Surprise: Questions Worksheet

Creating a Law Worksheet

Adding up to 1000 with Regrouping: Page 69

Thomas Edison’s Invention Arrays Worksheet

Mountain Animals Worksheet

Growing Jamestown Worksheet

Divide up the Garden Worksheet

Adding up to 1000: Page 6

U.S. States Quiz Worksheet

Related Articles

Critical thinking is essential for third graders, as it lays the foundation for lifelong learning and problem-solving skills. By the age of 8 or 9, children are beginning to develop the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information. It is crucial for parents and teachers to prioritize critical thinking in this stage, as it fosters independence and boosts confidence.

In Grade 3, children start to encounter more complex ideas in subjects like science, math, and literature. Encouraging them to question assumptions, draw conclusions, and consider alternative perspectives equips them to tackle real-world challenges creatively and effectively. For instance, when discussing a story, asking children to predict outcomes or explore characters' motivations enhances comprehension and engagement.

Moreover, critical thinking helps students become responsible decision-makers. As they practice evaluating outcomes and reflecting on their thought processes, they develop self-regulation skills that benefit their academic careers and personal lives. Emphasizing critical thinking nurtures curiosity and a love for learning, essential traits for future success.

Incorporating discussions, games, and hands-on activities that promote critical thinking allows children to unlock their potential and prepare them for the complexities of the world around them. Parents and teachers play a vital role in nurturing these skills.

Related Worksheet

You'll be able to manage the favorite spreadsheets list.

You’ll be able to hide/mark the accomplished tasks.

• School / District Account
• Family Account
• 2 PDF worksheets per day
• Interactive worksheets
• Targeted ads
• KidsAcademy ads

$ 1.99 / month

• Printable and interactive worksheets
• Learning videos
• Ad-free browsing

• Engage students and save time with ready-to-use premium educational activities.
• Unlimited Learning Library access

$9.99 / month

Cancel anytime

Subscribe to our Mailing List

Get the news right in your inbox!

Search the blog

Teaching Ideas & Classroom Resources to help your students reach their highest potential

Developing critical thinking skills with multi-step word problems

Our biggest goal as math teachers is to help our students become critical thinkers and problem solvers. I help my third graders develop critical thinking skills by using multi-step word problems in my math class every day.

When you need to find how much fencing you’ll need for your dog pen… does a worksheet appear that says “Find the Perimeter” in a cute font?!

When you are planning a party and want to make sure the amount of hotdog buns you purchased will be enough for every guest to have two… does a teacher tap you on the shoulder and remind you to multiply the number of guests times 2 to figure this out?

Math in the real-world

As adults we use math all the time. Except, we have to decide in the moment if we need to be using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or a mixture. We are able to do this because of the teachers who taught us how to problem solve.

One way that we can encourage more thinking in math class is by utilizing multi-step word problems. I don’t mean word problems that contain answer choices A, B, C, or D. I mean open-ended, multi-step word problems where students have to do some thinking to arrive at the answer.

These word problems must encourage thinking and, beginning in 3rd grade, must be multi-step.

What are multi-step word problems?

Multi-step word problems are problems that require students to do more than one math operation before getting the answer to the problem. Introduction to these multi-step word problems should begin in third grade.

Here is an example:

To solve this, you must first add 19 + 48 = 67. This answer is John’s total. Then, you add 67 + 48 to get Tommy’s total.

This differs from this one step problem: John has 19 more marbles than Melissa. If Melissa has 48 marbles, how many does John have?

Why teach problem solving skills?

There is more to teaching math than giving students a paper with directions that spell out exactly what needs to be done (ex: Add these three digit numbers, Find the perimeter of these shapes, etc.) Yes, this kind of stuff is absolutely needed, but not what this post is about.

Students need to be challenged with math situations daily. This type of brain work prepares them to be successful problem solvers as adults. It teaches them that there are multiple ways to solve problems and helps them see that math class has a real life purpose. Students will also learn to use multiple math process at the same time and to have perseverance to try multiple strategies until they are able to be successful.

Are you providing your students with daily experiences like this?

How this works in my third grade classroom:

Each morning when my students come in my classroom, they complete a multi-step word problem for morning work.

• I project a problem on my ActivPanel from my 3rd grade multi-step word problem PowerPoint
• Students solve it in their math composition books .
• We begin math class by discussing the problem each day.

Here is a sample problem from my multi-step word problem PowerPoint :

The Problem Solving Mat

Friday mornings, I lay a printable word problem on their desks and they complete it and turn it in for me to see. I can use this to assess student understanding, look for common mistakes, and see where I need to go next with my problem solving instruction.

The Friday printable looks like this: (These are also included in my multi-step word problem product)

I really like the layout of this page because it walks students through the problem solving process.

Step 1: Picture.

It is important to start working by relating to the problem and understanding exactly what is being asked. One of the best ways to do this is by drawing a picture. A picture could mean a model, a chart, table, etc. Some type of drawing that helps them understand the information from the problem.

Step 2: Solve it.

This is where students “show their work” and do the necessary math to solve the problem.

Step 3: Answer.

I instruct my students to include a label with their answer. For example in the problem above, the answer is 236 seashells . Adding a label helps me ensure that my students know what the answer even means.

Step 4: Explain it.

My favorite & my students’ least favorite part (muahaha).

I think explaining the answer is very important. I teach my students to evaluate their answers and ask themselves “Is this reasonable?” For example, would it make sense that my answer for the above question would be 842? I know I need to add 111, 83, and 42. Knowing this, 842 would not be a reasonable answer.

I provide my students with a writing frame in the beginning of the year to help them put their math process into words.

If you need help implementing a daily word problem into your math instruction, check out my 100 Two-Step Word Problems product on Teachers Pay Teachers. These are the daily word problems that I use with my students. Every problem contains multiple steps and uses the 4 operations to solve.

With this download, you’ll get 100 word-problems presented in a few different formats. The same 100 problems are used in each of the different formats, this is so you can use them however you like. The different formats make this product adaptable to your classroom.

You can see each format below:

I am always looking for more ideas to help my students with problem solving. What have you found that works well in your math class?

You May Also Like

6 reasons you should use number talks in math class.

Skip Counting Around the Christmas Tree

Content-based digital number talks.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you'll find ready-to-use, interactive teaching strategies that will help excite your kiddos about learning. Read More

Connect With Me

Popular links.

Looking for Something?

Popular topics.

• Classroom Ideas
• Classroom Transformations
• Digital Learning

Click to download this freebie today!

Classroom must haves

• Picture Books
• Uncategorized

Latest Posts

Spooky halloween multiplication stations.

How to Get Started with Number Talks at the Beginning of the Year

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Math Tips, Tricks, and Games

Improve Critical Thinking with 3rd Grade Multiplication Word Problems

Last Updated on June 3, 2022 by Thinkster

When done well, 3rd grade multiplication word problems present an opportunity for teachers and parents to help kids improve their critical thinking skills. These problems require a significant amount of thought in order to decide which operation to use, figure out the answer, and then determine whether or not the answer makes sense.

Here are some strategies to help children practice the problem-solving process. They work well to fine-tune those critical thinking skills and help with 3rd grade multiplication word problems.

Read the Problem to Find Meaningful Information

In order to solve 3rd grade multiplication word problems, students must learn in order to read the problem to locate critical information. The critical information includes the question asked, the clue word or words that indicate which operation to use, and the numbers that will be used to find that information. They might underline clue words and circle the question or highlight the numbers to help with this process.

3rd grade is an excellent time to introduce this process or to fine-tune it if it has been introduced earlier. Most third-graders have strong enough reading skills to be able to decode the words and start looking a little deeper into their meaning. As a result, they are better able to focus on honing their critical thinking skills.

Ask Questions

Asking questions is one of the key components of critical thinking. After reading a word problem students need to ask themselves several questions, including:

• What am I trying to find?
• Will the answer be larger or smaller than the numbers given?
• What operation would work best to find this answer?
• What is my estimated answer?
• Does my estimated answer make sense?

These critical thinking processes will help them arrive at the right answer with less struggle.

Visualizing the Problem

Many 3rd grade multiplication word problems work with numbers too large to draw a picture. Students must therefore solve the problem mentally, yet visualizing the process is still an important critical thinking skill. Teach children to draw mental pictures to visualize the word problems they are solving.

As you can see, 3rd grade multiplication word problems are an excellent way to begin developing those critical thinking skills. If you want to work on these skills at home, but lack the time or knowledge to sit down and work through word problems with your child, Thinkster Math can help. Thinkster’s innovative tablet-based math learning program will help your child focus on those critical thinking skills, then give them the tools they need to solve math word problems accurately with the help of knowledgeable math teachers. It’s fun to play and also  rewards children for their hard work , so your child will be motivated to learn.

Ready for your child to become math confident for life? 

If you’re looking for  online  math   tutoring  to help your child, you can try   Thinkster risk-free .

Thinkster provides a full-fledged  online  tutoring  platform (driven by AI, behavioral, and data science), as well as supplemental  math  worksheets ,  math   homework  help ,  test prep , and more. Our  Parent Insights App  allows you to monitor your  student ‘s work and  learning  improvements at any time.

An elite,  expert  math   tutor  and  online teaching  system work together to help your  student  go beyond just  learning   math  – we want them to master it.

Learn more about our curriculum and teaching style  here .

Subscribe to Thinkster Blog

Recommended Articles

• Tips for Parents

Mastering Math: How to Crack Challenging Math Problems in Under a Minute!

• Learning Math

Unlocking the Code: Teaching Mathematical Symbols and Their Meaning

How To Turn Your Child Into a Problem Solver for Life

• Kindergarten
• Greater Than Less Than
• Measurement
• Multiplication
• Place Value
• Subtraction
• Punctuation
• 1st Grade Reading
• 2nd Grade Reading
• 3rd Grade Reading
• Cursive Writing
• Alphabet Coloring
• Animals Coloring
• Birthday Coloring
• Boys Coloring
• Buildings Coloring
• Cartoons Coloring
• Christmas Coloring
• Country Flag Coloring
• Country Map Coloring
• Disney Coloring
• Fantasy Coloring
• Food Coloring
• Girls Coloring
• Holidays Coloring
• Music Coloring
• Nature Coloring
• New Year Coloring
• People Coloring
• Religious Coloring
• Sports Coloring
• Toys Coloring
• Transportation Coloring
• US Sports Team Coloring
• Valentine Day Coloring

3rd Grade Critical Thinking

Displaying top 8 worksheets found for - 3rd Grade Critical Thinking .

Some of the worksheets for this concept are The critical thinking, 81 fresh fun critical thinking activities, Essential standards third grade social studies unpacked, Grade 3 math, Analogies, Improving reading comprehension in kindergarten through, Rhyme time, 7 critical thinking skills of common core.

Found worksheet you are looking for? To download/print, click on pop-out icon or print icon to worksheet to print or download. Worksheet will open in a new window. You can & download or print using the browser document reader options.

1. THE CRITICAL THINKING

2. 81 fresh & fun critical-thinking activities, 3. essential standards: third grade social studies unpacked ..., 4. grade 3 math, 5. analogies, 6. improving reading comprehension in kindergarten through ..., 7. rhyme time -, 8. 7 critical thinking skills of common core.

Addition: Critical Thinking (Gr. 3)

Scott Foresman, an imprint of Pearson

Featured 3th grade resources.

Related Resources

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

• Order Tracking
• Create an Account

200+ Award-Winning Educational Textbooks, Activity Books, & Printable eBooks!

• Compare Products

Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies

• Search by Book Series
• Algebra I & II  Gr. 7-12+
• Algebra Magic Tricks  Gr. 2-12+
• Algebra Word Problems  Gr. 7-12+
• Balance Benders  Gr. 2-12+
• Balance Math & More!  Gr. 2-12+
• Basics of Critical Thinking  Gr. 4-7
• Brain Stretchers  Gr. 5-12+
• Building Thinking Skills  Gr. Toddler-12+
• Building Writing Skills  Gr. 3-7
• Bundles - Critical Thinking  Gr. PreK-9
• Bundles - Language Arts  Gr. K-8
• Bundles - Mathematics  Gr. PreK-9
• Bundles - Multi-Subject Curriculum  Gr. PreK-12+
• Bundles - Test Prep  Gr. Toddler-12+
• Can You Find Me?  Gr. PreK-1
• Complete the Picture Math  Gr. 1-3
• Cornell Critical Thinking Tests  Gr. 5-12+
• Cranium Crackers  Gr. 3-12+
• Creative Problem Solving  Gr. PreK-2
• Critical Thinking Activities to Improve Writing  Gr. 4-12+
• Critical Thinking Coloring  Gr. PreK-2
• Critical Thinking Detective  Gr. 3-12+
• Critical Thinking Tests  Gr. PreK-6
• Critical Thinking for Reading Comprehension  Gr. 1-5
• Critical Thinking in United States History  Gr. 6-12+
• CrossNumber Math Puzzles  Gr. 4-10
• Crypt-O-Words  Gr. 2-7
• Crypto Mind Benders  Gr. 3-12+
• Daily Mind Builders  Gr. 5-12+
• Dare to Compare Math  Gr. 2-7
• Developing Critical Thinking through Science  Gr. 1-8
• Dr. DooRiddles  Gr. PreK-12+
• Dr. Funster's  Gr. 2-12+
• Editor in Chief  Gr. 2-12+
• Fun-Time Phonics!  Gr. PreK-2
• Half 'n Half Animals  Gr. K-4
• Hands-On Thinking Skills  Gr. K-1
• Inference Jones  Gr. 1-6
• James Madison  Gr. 10-12+
• Jumbles  Gr. 3-5
• Language Mechanic  Gr. 4-7
• Language Smarts  Gr. 1-4
• Mastering Logic & Math Problem Solving  Gr. 6-9
• Math Analogies  Gr. K-9
• Math Detective  Gr. 3-8
• Math Games  Gr. 3-8
• Math Mind Benders  Gr. 5-12+
• Math Ties  Gr. 4-8
• Math Word Problems  Gr. 4-10
• Mathematical Reasoning  Gr. Toddler-11
• Middle School Science  Gr. 6-8
• Mind Benders  Gr. PreK-12+
• Mind Building Math  Gr. K-1
• Mind Building Reading  Gr. K-1
• Novel Thinking  Gr. 3-6
• OLSAT® Test Prep  Gr. PreK-K
• Organizing Thinking  Gr. 2-8
• Pattern Explorer  Gr. 3-9
• Practical Critical Thinking  Gr. 8-12+
• Punctuation Puzzler  Gr. 3-8
• Reading Detective  Gr. 3-12+
• Red Herring Mysteries  Gr. 4-12+
• Red Herrings Science Mysteries  Gr. 4-9
• Science Detective  Gr. 3-6
• Science Mind Benders  Gr. PreK-3
• Science Vocabulary Crossword Puzzles  Gr. 4-6
• Sciencewise  Gr. 4-12+
• Scratch Your Brain  Gr. 2-12+
• Senior Brain Health Program  Gr. 4-8
• Sentence Diagramming  Gr. 3-12+
• Smarty Pants Puzzles  Gr. 3-12+
• Snailopolis  Gr. K-4
• Something's Fishy at Lake Iwannafisha  Gr. 5-9
• Teaching Technology  Gr. 3-12+
• Tell Me a Story  Gr. PreK-1
• Think Analogies  Gr. 3-12+
• Think and Write  Gr. 3-8
• Think-A-Grams  Gr. 4-12+
• Thinking About Time  Gr. 3-6
• Thinking Connections  Gr. 4-12+
• Thinking Directionally  Gr. 2-6
• Thinking Skills & Key Concepts  Gr. PreK-2
• Thinking Skills for Tests  Gr. PreK-5
• U.S. History Detective  Gr. 8-12+
• Understanding Fractions  Gr. 2-6
• Visual Perceptual Skill Building  Gr. PreK-3
• Vocabulary Riddles  Gr. 4-8
• Vocabulary Smarts  Gr. 2-5
• Vocabulary Virtuoso  Gr. 2-12+
• What Would You Do?  Gr. 2-12+
• Who Is This Kid? Colleges Want to Know!  Gr. 9-12+
• Word Explorer  Gr. 4-8
• Word Roots  Gr. 3-12+
• World History Detective  Gr. 6-12+
• Writing Detective  Gr. 3-6
• You Decide!  Gr. 6-12+

• Special of the Month
• Sign Up for our Best Offers
• Bundles = Greatest Savings!
• Sign Up for Free Puzzles
• Sign Up for Free Activities
• Toddler (Ages 0-3)
• PreK (Ages 3-5)
• Kindergarten (Ages 5-6)
• 1st Grade (Ages 6-7)
• 2nd Grade (Ages 7-8)
• 3rd Grade (Ages 8-9)
• 4th Grade (Ages 9-10)
• 5th Grade (Ages 10-11)
• 6th Grade (Ages 11-12)
• 7th Grade (Ages 12-13)
• 8th Grade (Ages 13-14)
• 9th Grade (Ages 14-15)
• 10th Grade (Ages 15-16)
• 11th Grade (Ages 16-17)
• 12th Grade (Ages 17-18)
• 12th+ Grade (Ages 18+)
• Test Prep Directory
• Test Prep Bundles
• Test Prep Guides
• Preschool Academics
• Store Locator
• Submit Feedback/Request
• Sales Alerts Sign-Up
• Technical Support
• Mission & History
• Articles & Advice
• Testimonials
• Our Guarantee
• New Products
• Free Activities
• Libros en Español

Customers love our products...

Tell us your story ».

"My children love Balance Benders™; in fact, I would not be exaggerating if I said they were addicted to them. I sincerely thank you for a product that makes what can be extremely difficult skills to master an absolute blast for my children."

"The wealth of game-like activities and colorful illustrations in Fun-Time Phonics!™ make it feel like play rather than work, allowing kids to enjoy themselves while acquiring the skills and confidence that lead to fluency."

"Reading Detective® is the best reading comprehension teaching material I have found! I love that your material teaches the student HOW to comprehend, and how to look for the answers in the text. I love your evidence-seeking approach!"

"I love the Language Smarts™ curriculum. My son enjoys it very much and can follow the simple instructions with ease. Thanks to The Critical Thinking Co.™, my son scores high on his standardized and placement tests."

"U.S. History Detective® is fabulous. You have to do more than just figure out the correct answer -- you have to give the sentence number(s) that best supports your answer. I love that. You have to read the text and support your conclusions."

"The fun thing about Mathematical Reasoning™ is that every page is a little different. No rote facts or boredom here! Mix that in with a few game-like activities and lots of colors and pictures, and they had my kiddo hooked."

"We did an experiment to see if Building Thinking Skills® would help students perform better on standardized and state tests. The improvement was remarkable. Test scores went up even after the first few months!"

"Word Roots is everything I was searching for and more. It goes beyond spelling tests and teaches students to decipher words based upon prefixes, suffixes, and roots. The focus is on meaning, which in turn increases comprehension."

"You wouldn't think something so fun could have such a profound effect on your thought process! Mind Benders® sharpen organizational and informational processing skills as well as strengthen reading skills."

• Children's Books
• Growing Up & Facts of Life

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } -10% $12.59 $ 12 . 59 FREE delivery Tuesday, October 29 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com

Return this item for free.

We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select your preferred free shipping option
• Drop off and leave!

Save with Used - Very Good .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } $11.75 $ 11 . 75 FREE delivery Tuesday, October 29 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Amazon Resale

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

School Zone - Big Third Grade Workbook - 320 Pages, Ages 8 to 9, 3rd Grade, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, History, Social Science, Critical Thinking, and More (School Zone Big Workbook Series) Paperback – July 8, 2019

Purchase options and add-ons, additional details.

Visit the School Zone store at Amazon.com/SchoolZonePublishing.

BOOK FEATURES

• 320 pages: 301 activity pages, 19 answer key pages
• For ages 8 to 9
• 7.75" x 10.75" pages with durable glossy cover
• Book has multiple sections with Parent notes for each: Writing, Math, Critical Thinking, Reading, Vocabulary
• The skill being practiced is listed at the bottom of each page
• Colorful, kid friendly illustrations reinforce the lessons
• Concepts and skills build upon one another, progressing from easy to more difficult
• Perforated pages are easy to tear out for individual worksheets

Big Third Grade Workbook is packed with 300+ colorful exercises that make learning fun! These proven activities will help prepare your child for success. This is a great 3rd grade reading comprehension workbook, and helps children to sharpen their writing and reading skills in the parts of speech, vocabulary, persuasive writing, and punctuation workbook sections. It’s also perfect for studying 3rd grade math with the equations, fractions, estimating, symmetry, and multiplication workbook sections. Or work on history, social science, and critical thinking for kids all at once! Each section has notes for parents to help encourage learning, and concepts and skills build upon one another, progressing from easy to more difficult throughout the book. With the colorful and kid friendly illustrations and easy directions, this big 3rd grade workbook is fun and easy to use. The perforated pages make it easy to tear out and create individual worksheets, and each skill being practiced is listed at the bottom of each page to help keep track.

• Print length 320 pages
• Language English
• Grade level Preschool and up
• Dimensions 7.75 x 0.5 x 10.75 inches
• Publisher School Zone Publishing
• Publication date July 8, 2019
• ISBN-10 1589479262
• ISBN-13 978-1589479265
• See all details

Frequently bought together

More items to explore

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

For nearly 40 years, School Zone has helped make learning fun! Our research-based content, developed by leading educators, delivers award-winning, state-of-the-art products digital and print for individual learning styles and goals. Every product placed in a child's hands is brimming with color, content, and creativity. In every detail, innovation meets imagination and timeless tradition. In that same spirit, School Zone both embodies success and embraces possibility, stepping boldly into new media and platforms to connect with kids where they are. Parents appreciate the quality and attention to detail. The company continually updates materials with new features and content, reflective of changing standards, evolving teaching methods, and overall best practices. The result? Great learning at home and in the classroom.

Joan Hoffman, M.A., is the author and co-author of hundreds popular storybooks and workbooks for children. Among the titles are Peter’s Dream , I Don’t Like Peas , and The New Bike (the latter two published under the pen name Marie Vinje), the Get Ready for Preschool , Kindergarten , and First Grade workbook trio, along with the entire Get Ready, Little Thinker, I Know It!, Try-n-Spy, and Little Busy Book workbook series.

She is also co-founder, along with her late husband James Hoffman, Ph.D., of School Zone Publishing. Visionary in business, she has long looked at the world through a child’s eyes, infusing her stories and lessons with joy and relatability.

As a mother of 4 back in the ‘70s, like moms the world over throughout history, she wanted what was best for her children. And she knew that teachers didn’t have the time to give her kids everything they needed. As an elementary school teacher, Hoffman worked hard to give her students what they needed to learn. And parents would ask her what they could do to help. That’s why she started School Zone—to help give children every possible chance to reach their potential.

She brought retail experience gleaned from previously founding and managing two regional educational book and supply stores for teachers and parents. Her husband lent his blended talents of educator and entrepreneur. A professor of education who also had first-hand experience as an elementary teacher, he was involved in teacher education programs at several colleges and had served at the helm of a company that published classroom materials.

Combining rock-solid editorial judgment and creative instincts with a thorough understanding of early education, Joan Hoffman was an exemplary proponent of design thinking long before it became a conceptual label. An innovative problem-solver, she has always sought to reach out to end users and challenge convention. Separating fleeting trends from legitimate advances has been essential to her company’s longevity.

The results speak for themselves. With the next generation—both son Jonathan and daughter Jennifer—taking on creative and strategic leadership roles in the company their parents started, School Zone seamlessly integrated digital learning platforms. The company received Apple’s exclusive Human Interface Design Excellence Award for software development, and its apps were part of the first-generation iPad launch in 2010. School Zone’s flagship product, the Little Scholar Learning Tablet, has earned industry-wide recognition and awards, as has its online learning destination Anywhere Teacher. Inspired by mom’s story-telling excellence, son Jonathan continued that legacy with Charlie & Company, an original series for ages 3-7, available on Oznnoz, Kidoodle.tv, ToonGoggles, BatteryPop, Ameba, and Highbrow.

Joan Hoffman says, “It is incredibly rewarding to see the children and grandchildren of some of our original customers enjoying our ever-evolving books, apps, flash cards, games, music, and other products—both print and digital.” In 2019 School Zone celebrates its 40 th anniversary, spanning portions of five decades and having sold more than 370 million educational products. Hoffman continues to be hands-on in the company, still writing, still envisioning, and still putting kids, parents, and teachers first.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ School Zone Publishing; Workbook edition (July 8, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1589479262
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1589479265
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 8 years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 0.5 x 10.75 inches
• #39 in Children's Math Books (Books)
• #58 in Children's School Issues
• #173 in Children's Activity Books (Books)

Videos for this product

Click to play video

Summer school, homeschool, tutoring - standard focused!

SSSTeaching

Review of School Zone Big Third Grade Work Book

Marie Dubuque

Amazing workbook for a third grader

Maria Botinas

Kids can have something more to do outside of school work.

Customer Review: This is is great it helps my daughter to do her work

Nicola Lamont

Big Third Grader Book

Kiante Arielle

School Zone Big Third Grade Workbook

School Zone Pub

Customer Review: Third grade big workbook

Lana Daniel

About the author

School zone.

School Zone Publishing authorship signifies quality, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail, as well as a collective commitment to kids’ well-being, education, and entertainment. School Zone – bringing out the teacher in every parent. Recognizing that parents are their kids’ #1 teachers, School Zone products encourage parent participation and make it easy. Workbooks include a front-of-book Parent Guide as well as a back-of-book list of Activities to Share that extend the learning. They also have visual cues, such as a color-coded skills focus listed at the bottom of each page to help guide targeted work.

With research-based content, designed by educators and delivered across multiple learning platforms, School Zone connects with kids “where they are.” Workbooks, flash cards, and online learning apps—all are crafted through a child’s eyes, while integrating parent/teacher standards of precision and accountability. School Zone updates the workbook curriculum on an as-needed basis to address changing standards such as those presented by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and Common Core, and as always, what they are hearing from teachers and parents.

School Zone works hard, and so do their products, including flash card sets that often double as games. Many workbooks have perforated pages to take along as individual worksheets for learning anywhere, anytime. The workbooks are also recyclable, largely made in the U.S., and printed using soy-based ink--friendly for customers and the environment. These are just a few ways School Zone packs value—and the company’s values—into everything they offer. The family-owned company, surpassing the 40-year mark, both embodies success and embraces possibility.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 83% 11% 4% 1% 1% 83%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 83% 11% 4% 1% 1% 11%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 83% 11% 4% 1% 1% 4%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 83% 11% 4% 1% 1% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 83% 11% 4% 1% 1% 1%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book educational and a good homework helper. They say it's excellent to keep kids on task, and full of fun activities. Readers also mention the content is great, easy to follow, and perfectly tailored to their age and grade level. They describe the book as a great value for money and an investment. Additionally, customers mention it's a great book for summer refreshers and practice.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book educational. They appreciate that it gradually builds upon concepts, ensuring a solid foundation. Readers say it reinforces basic math skills like adding and subtracting large groups of numbers. They also mention it covers most areas of important learning material and is a wonderful extra practice tool.

"...I appreciate how the workbook gradually builds upon concepts , ensuring a solid foundation for academic success...." Read more

"This was a great activity book for a 9 year old. It was fun and educational ." Read more

"...This workbook will help solidify his foundation and increase his confidence . Let him get proper practice during the summer ." Read more

"The information in the book is good ; however, it was received damaged. The front cover is ripped halfway up the book." Read more

Customers find the book excellent for keeping kids on task, saying it contains a great variety of curriculum. They say it's full of educational, fun activities that keep them interested and challenged. Readers also mention the pages are fun and there are plenty of problems per page.

"...The variety of exercises keeps my child challenged and interested, and the colorful illustrations make learning even more enjoyable...." Read more

"... Kept him occupied and engaged " Read more

"... Great addition to their curriculum " Read more

"This was a great activity book for a 9 year old. It was fun and educational." Read more

Customers find the content great, easy to follow, and perfect for their age and grade level. They also mention it includes reading, math, and critical thinking. Readers also appreciate the simple explanations with easy-to-understand examples and how-to's. In addition, they say the book is thick with lots of pages front and back.

"...The content is perfectly tailored to their age and grade level, covering essential subjects like reading and writing in a fun and interactive way...." Read more

" Easy to read " Read more

"The English side of the book is excessive and not worth it in my opinion, the math was spot on with what was taught in school...." Read more

"...I appreciate that it contains various subjects, and the pages are simple yet helpful in supporting his learning and improving his problem-solving..." Read more

Customers find the book a great investment and say it's good quality for the price.

"...Has so much stuff for my little girl. It's a thick book and for the price it's perfect ." Read more

"...This is definitely great value for your money . And I will continue to buy these books." Read more

"...The shipment was fast with no issues. This workbook is a great investment for your child ." Read more

"I liked that it had a variety of subjects. It is also good quality for the price being pretty low" Read more

Customers find the book a great summer refresher and practice to supplement over the summer. They also say it's the best they've seen.

" Great summer book my kids my child enjoys doing the worksheets" Read more

"...Overall great practice to supplement over the summer . Many blessings to you and your family." Read more

" Great book for summer “bridge ” work- in fact, it’s the best I’ve seen!..." Read more

"It’s a great summer book ." Read more

Customers find the color palette of the book very colorful. They also say it's lovely.

"...my child challenged and interested, and the colorful illustrations make learning even more enjoyable ...." Read more

"...I use it to supplement but not by itself. its very colorful and upbeat ! My boys really like it." Read more

"Kid loved it. Fun and colorful pages . Kid enjoyed fun learning." Read more

"Love the diffrent subjects and lots of color my daughter loves it" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the speed of shipping of the book. They mention it's a great investment for their child and perfect for going at their pace.

"...I would definitely recommend this book! The shipment was fast with no issues . This workbook is a great investment for your child." Read more

"...for a kiddos who doesn’t want to do school work it’s perfect for going at their pace ." Read more

" Quick shipping ..." Read more

" Fast service and shipping..." Read more

Reviews with images

Nick practice book.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices