Illustrative Mathematics Grade 3, Unit 8: Putting It All Together
In this unit, your child reviews and connects the big ideas of third grade: multiplication, rounding, fractions, time, and shapes. They revisit equal groups, round numbers, name fractions, solve time problems, and sort quadrilaterals, often through games and longer problems. It is a chance to strengthen whatever still feels shaky before fourth grade.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 8?
- Revisiting multiplication as equal groups and using it to solve larger problems that mix several skills. Learn more: Multiplication as equal groups
- Rounding to the nearest 10 or 100 again, now to estimate in problems with several steps. Learn more: Rounding to the nearest 10 or 100
- Returning to unit fractions and fractions like 5/6, describing them as copies of a unit fraction. Learn more: What a fraction like 3/4 means
- Practicing time to the minute and elapsed time in everyday story problems. Learn more about telling time to the minute: Telling time to the minute · Learn more about working out how many minutes have passed
- Reviewing shape groups, such as quadrilaterals, and describing a shape by every group it belongs to. Learn more: Sorting four-sided shapes into families
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Hana has 3 plates with 5 strawberries on each plate. She writes 3 × 5. What does 3 × 5 tell her?
- How many strawberries there are in all
- How many strawberries are on each plate
- How many plates she has
How you can help
- Ask a mixed question during a ride, such as how many wheels are on 6 bikes, then what that rounds to (12, which is about 10).
- Fold a napkin into sixths and ask your child to show 5/6, then name the part that is left over (1/6).
- Ask how long until a favorite show starts, such as from 5:48 to 6:15, and let your child count it out (27 minutes).
Where kids can get stuck
- Rounding by the wrong place, going to the nearest hundred when the question asks for the nearest ten.
- Counting the unshaded parts as the denominator instead of the total number of parts.
- Forgetting that a square also belongs with rectangles and rhombuses.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- equal groups
- Groups that each have the same number of things.
- product
- The answer when you multiply.
- round
- To swap a number for the closest ten or hundred, like 47 to 50.
- estimate
- A smart guess close to the real answer, often found by rounding.
- unit fraction
- A fraction with 1 on top, like 1/4, that names one equal part.
- numerator
- The top number of a fraction; it tells how many equal parts we have.
- denominator
- The bottom number of a fraction; it tells how many equal parts make the whole.
- elapsed time
- The amount of time between a start time and an end time.
- quadrilateral
- Any closed shape with 4 straight sides.
Want to help your child master third-grade math?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
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Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Illustrative Mathematics Grade 3 Unit 8 cover?
Illustrative Mathematics Grade 3 Unit 8 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
- 3.OA.A.1: Understand multiplication as equal groups, like 5 groups of 7.
- 3.NBT.A.1: Round numbers to the nearest 10 or 100.
- 3.NF.A.1: Understand what a fraction means: 3/4 is 3 of 4 equal parts.
- 3.MD.A.1: Tell time to the minute, and work out how many minutes have passed.
- 3.G.A.1: Sort shapes into groups, like quadrilaterals (four-sided shapes).
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.