3rd Grade Fluency Activities
The table below includes fluency activities that engage students in practicing skills appropriate for the unit, organized by the Topics of the unit. In each table, the left column identifies the applicable skills of each Topic, and the right column identifies one or more activities (and variations of those activities) that align to each of those skills. To learn more about each fluency activity, including optional variations to increase or decrease the cognitive complexity for students, click on the activity.
For each Topic, you can choose to practice each of the following skills with whatever frequency you’d like, but be sure students get sufficient practice for each of the targeted skills. For the skills with more than one activity listed, you may choose to use all or just some of the activities, depending on which students find most engaging. You can also spiral previously introduced activities into later Topics if students need additional practice on that skill. Do not introduce an activity before students are taught that material in the regular math lesson, since these activities assume a conceptual foundation has already been built.
For more guidance on incorporating fluency practice into your lessons, see our Teacher Tool on Procedural Skill and Fluency.
Key:
Approaching
Unit 1: Rounding, Addition, and Subtraction
Topic A: Foundations of Place Value
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Place multi-digit numbers on a number line |
2.MD.B.6 2.NBT.A.4 3.NBT.A.1 4.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.A.3 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 1 |
|
Add multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 1 - Use Game Board A Get to __ - Version 1 - Use Game Board A |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 2 - Use Game Board D Get to __ - Version 2 - Use Game Board F |
|
Add multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 2 - within 100 |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 3 - within 100 |
Topic B: Rounding to the Nearest Ten and Hundred
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Round multi-digit numbers using a number line |
3.NBT.A.1 4.NBT.A.3 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 3 |
|
Add multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 1 - Use Game Board A Get to __ - Version 1 - Use Game Board A |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 2 - Use Game Board D Get to __ - Version 2 - Use Game Board F |
|
Add multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 2 - within 100 |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 3 - within 100 |
Topic C: Addition and Subtraction Within 1,000
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Estimate sums and differences within 1,000 |
3.NBT.A.1 3.NBT.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
High or Low? - Version 1 |
|
Round multi-digit numbers using a number line |
3.NBT.A.1 4.NBT.A.3 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 3 |
|
Add multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 1 - Use Game Board B Get to __ - Version 1 - Use Game Board B |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 4.NBT.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Hit the Target - Version 2 - Use Game Board E Get to __ - Version 2 - Use Game Board G |
|
Add multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 2 - within 1,000 |
|
Subtract multi-digit numbers using mental strategies |
2.NBT.B.5 3.NBT.A.2 4.NBT.B.4 |
Whole Class Activity |
Number Talks - Version 3 - within 1,000 |
Unit 2: Multiplication and Division, Part 1
Topic A: The Meaning of Multiplication and Division
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Skip-count by 2-5s and 10s |
2.NBT.A.2 2.OA.C.3 3.OA.C.7 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 2 - Skip-count by 2s, 5s, and/or 10s within 100 |
Topic B: Multiplication and Division by 2, 5, and 10
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use Card Set A |
|
Skip-count by 2-5s and 10s |
2.NBT.A.2 2.OA.C.3 3.OA.C.7 |
Whole Class Activity Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 2 - Skip-count by 2s, 5s, and/or 10s within 100 Choral Counting - Version 2 Skip-count by 2s, 5s, and/or 10s within 100 |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Bump - Version 1 - Use Game Board A, B, and/or C Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set A |
Topic C: Multiplication and Division by 3 and 4
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
|
Skip-count by 2-5s and 10s |
2.NBT.A.2 2.OA.C.3 3.OA.C.7 |
Whole Class Activity Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 2 - Skip-count by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and/or 10s within 100 Choral Counting - Version 2 Skip-count by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and/or 10s within 100 |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Bump - Version 1 - Use any Game Board A-E Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
Topic D: More Complex Multiplication and Division Problems
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Bump - Version 1 - Use any Game Board A-E Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
Topic E: Scaled Picture and Bar Graphs
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Bump - Version 1 - Use any Game Board A-E Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
Unit 3: Multiplication and Division, Part 2
Topic A: Introduction to The Properties of Operations
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-D |
|
Apply properties of operations to multiply |
3.OA.B.5 |
Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 1 - Use Card Set A |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C |
Topic B: Multiplication and Division by 6 and 7
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-E |
|
Apply properties of operations to multiply |
3.OA.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B Equal Values - Version 1 - Use Card Set A |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, C, and/or D (except the final row of Set D) |
|
Skip-count by 6-9s |
3.OA.C.7 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 3 - Skip-count by 6s and/or 7s within 100 |
Topic C: Multiplication and Division by 8 and 9
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-F |
|
Apply properties of operations to multiply |
3.OA.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C Equal Values - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-D Odd One Out - Version 1 |
|
Multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Four in a Row - Version 6 |
|
Skip-count by 6-9s |
3.OA.C.7 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 3 - Skip-count by 6s, 7s, 8s, and/or 9s within 100 |
Topic D: Multiplication and Division by Values Greater than 10
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-F |
|
Apply properties of operations to multiply |
3.OA.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C Equal Values - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
|
Multiply single-digit factors by multiples of ten |
3.NBT.A.3 |
Center Activity |
Bullseye - Version 1 |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-D Odd One Out - Version 1 |
|
Multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Four in a Row - Version 6 |
Topic E: Two-Step Word Problems and Patterns in Arithmetic
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation |
3.OA.A.4 |
Center Activity |
Four of a Kind - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-F |
|
Apply properties of operations to multiply |
3.OA.B.5 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A, B, and/or C Equal Values - Version 1 - Use Card Set(s) A and/or B |
|
Multiply single-digit factors by multiples of ten |
3.NBT.A.3 |
Center Activity |
Bullseye - Version 1 |
|
Fluently multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Flash Cards - Version 2 - Use any Card Set(s) A-D Odd One Out - Version 1 |
|
Multiply and divide within 100 |
3.OA.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Four in a Row - Version 6 |
Unit 4: Area
Topic A: Understanding Concepts of Area
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Count unit squares to measure area |
3.MD.C.6 |
Whole Class Activity |
Count Em Up - Version 1 |
|
Multiply side lengths to find the area of rectangles |
3.MD.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Fill Up - Version 2 |
Topic B: The Distributive Property and Composite Area
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Count unit squares to measure area |
3.MD.C.6 |
Whole Class Activity |
Count Em Up - Version 1 |
|
Multiply side lengths to find the area of rectangles |
3.MD.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Fill Up - Version 2 |
|
Use area models to represent the distributive property |
3.MD.C.7.C |
Center Activity |
Math Flips - Version 2 |
Unit 5: Shapes and Their Perimeter
Topic A: Attributes of Two-Dimensional Shapes
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Multiply side lengths to find the area of rectangles |
3.MD.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Fill Up - Version 2 |
|
Find the perimeter of polygons |
3.MD.D.8 |
Center Activity |
Tetrimeter - Version 1 |
Topic B: Understanding Perimeter
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Multiply side lengths to find the area of rectangles |
3.MD.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Fill Up - Version 2 |
|
Find the perimeter of polygons |
3.MD.D.8 |
Center Activity |
Tetrimeter - Version 1 |
Topic C: Distinguishing Between Area and Perimeter
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Multiply side lengths to find the area of rectangles |
3.MD.C.7 |
Center Activity |
Fill Up - Version 2 |
|
Find the perimeter of polygons |
3.MD.D.8 |
Center Activity |
Tetrimeter - Version 1 |
|
Identify attributes of quadrilaterals |
3.G.A.1 |
Center Activity |
Quadrilateral Memory - Version 1 |
Unit 6: Fractions
Topic A: Understanding Unit Fractions and Building Non-Unit Fractions
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Identify unit fractions and wholes |
3.G.A.1 3.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity |
I Have _, Do You Have _? - Version 1 |
|
Count by unit fractions |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 4 - Skip-count by halves, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and/or 8ths |
|
Identify fractions in a whole that is not partitioned into equal parts |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Fraction Talks - Version 1 |
Topic B: Fractions on a Number Line
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Identify unit fractions and wholes |
3.G.A.1 3.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity |
I Have _, Do You Have _? - Version 1 |
|
Count by unit fractions |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 4 - Skip-count by halves, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and/or 8ths |
|
Identify fractions in a whole that is not partitioned into equal parts |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Fraction Talks - Version 1 |
|
Place fractions on a number line |
3.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity Center Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 4 Down to the Wire - Version 2 |
Topic C: Equivalent Fractions
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Generate and identify equivalent fractions |
3.NF.A.3.B 4.NF.A.1 5.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Fraction Connect Four - Version 1 Fraction Grab - Version 1 |
|
Identify unit fractions and wholes |
3.G.A.1 3.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity |
I Have _, Do You Have _? - Version 1 |
|
Count by unit fractions |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 4 - Skip-count by halves, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and/or 8ths |
|
Identify fractions in a whole that is not partitioned into equal parts |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Fraction Talks - Version 1 |
|
Place fractions on a number line |
3.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity Center Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 4 Down to the Wire - Version 2 |
Topic D: Comparing Fractions
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Generate and identify equivalent fractions |
3.NF.A.3.B 4.NF.A.1 5.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Fraction Connect Four - Version 1 Fraction Grab - Version 1 |
|
Compare fractions |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Center Activity |
Number Clash - Version 2 |
|
Order fractions |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Center Activity |
Swap Shop - Version 1 |
|
Identify unit fractions and wholes |
3.G.A.1 3.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity |
I Have _, Do You Have _? - Version 1 |
|
Count by unit fractions |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 4 - Skip-count by halves, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and/or 8ths |
|
Identify fractions in a whole that is not partitioned into equal parts |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Fraction Talks - Version 1 |
|
Place fractions on a number line |
3.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity Center Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 4 Down to the Wire - Version 2 |
|
Compare fractions using a number line |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 5 |
Topic E: Line Plots
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Generate and identify equivalent fractions |
3.NF.A.3.B 4.NF.A.1 5.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity Center Activity |
Fraction Connect Four - Version 1 Fraction Grab - Version 1 |
|
Compare fractions |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Center Activity |
Number Clash - Version 2 |
|
Order fractions |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Center Activity |
Swap Shop - Version 1 |
|
Identify unit fractions and wholes |
3.G.A.1 3.NF.A.1 |
Center Activity |
I Have _, Do You Have _? - Version 1 |
|
Count by unit fractions |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Choral Counting - Version 4 - Skip-count by halves, 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, and/or 8ths |
|
Identify fractions in a whole that is not partitioned into equal parts |
3.NF.A.1 |
Whole Class Activity |
Fraction Talks - Version 1 |
|
Place fractions on a number line |
3.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity Center Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 4 Down to the Wire - Version 2 |
|
Compare fractions using a number line |
3.NF.A.3.D 4.NF.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 5 |
Unit 7: Measurement
Topic A: Time Measurement
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Relate time to a number line |
3.MD.A.1 4.MD.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 9 |
Topic B: Mass and Liquid Volume Measurement
| Skill | Standard | Format | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Relate time to a number line |
3.MD.A.1 4.MD.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 9 |
|
Relate measurement scales to a number line |
3.MD.A.2 4.MD.A.2 |
Whole Class Activity |
Clothesline Math - Version 10 |
