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Math Time Machine

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Lesson Plan

Math Time Machine Lesson Plan

Students will revisit addition and subtraction strategies from 1st and 2nd grade to reinforce prerequisite skills, then apply them to deepen understanding of 3rd grade multiplication and division, ultimately boosting their arithmetic confidence.

Building on earlier arithmetic foundations ensures students have the fluency and number sense needed for 3rd grade multiplication and division. This bridges gaps, strengthens confidence, and promotes mastery of current standards.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Engaging time-travel review leading into hands-on grade-level practice.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up

5 minutes

  • Invite students to pick an Addition & Subtraction Review Card.
  • On dry-erase boards, solve the problem and hold up for peer-share.
  • Highlight strategies: counting on, making ten, and decomposing numbers.

Step 2

Direct Instruction

7 minutes

Step 3

Guided Practice

8 minutes

  • In pairs, students complete the next two problems on the warm-up worksheet together.
  • Circulate to prompt use of addition/subtraction strategies when stuck.
  • Provide immediate feedback and corrections.

Step 4

Independent Practice

7 minutes

  • Students work individually on the first half of the division worksheet.
  • Encourage them to draw groupings or use their dry-erase boards to visualize.
  • Collect boards to spot-check understanding.

Step 5

Cool-Down

3 minutes

  • Quick exit ticket: one multiplication and one division problem on the board.
  • Students write answers on sticky notes and post on the door as they leave.
  • Briefly review common errors tomorrow morning.
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Slide Deck

Math Time Machine

Travel through time to master 3rd grade Common Core math standards by revisiting essential skills from earlier grades!

Welcome students to the Math Time Machine! Introduce time-travel theme: we’ll revisit past skills to help us master new ones. Explain today’s focus: using 1st & 2nd grade strategies to boost 3rd grade multiplication and division skills.

Lesson Objectives

• Revisit addition & subtraction strategies from 1st & 2nd grade
• Apply those strategies to solve multiplication problems
• Use equal groups to solve simple division problems
• Boost arithmetic fluency and confidence

Read the objective aloud. Emphasize that we’re building confidence by connecting to what students already know.

Why Review Prerequisite Skills?

• Strengthens number sense
• Fills in learning gaps
• Builds confidence for new challenges
• Connects past learning to current standards

Explain why reviewing is important. Mention that strong foundations prevent gaps and make new learning smoother.

Warm-Up: Addition & Subtraction Review

  1. Pick an Addition & Subtraction Review Card.
  2. Solve the problem on your dry-erase board.
  3. Hold up your board for a quick peer-share.
  4. Identify which strategy you used.

Guide students to pick a review card and solve on their dry-erase boards. Circulate and highlight strategies: counting on, making ten, decomposing numbers.

Direct Instruction: Multiplication

Sample Problem: 4 × 3 = ?
• Use an array: draw 4 rows of 3
• Skip-count: 3, 6, 9, 12
• Answer: 12

Project a sample 4 × 3 array. Model drawing the array and skip-counting by threes. Prompt students to follow along on their boards.

Direct Instruction: Division

Sample Problem: 12 ÷ 4 = ?
• Draw 12 objects
• Separate into 4 equal groups
• Count each group: 3
• Answer: 3

Project a sample division problem. Model grouping 12 objects into 4 equal groups. Emphasize understanding “how many in each group.”

Guided Practice

  1. Pair up and get your Multiplication Warm-Up Worksheet.
  2. Solve the next two problems together.
  3. Discuss which addition/subtraction strategy helps.

Explain that students will work in pairs on the next two problems of the Multiplication Warm-Up Worksheet. Circulate to prompt use of addition/subtraction strategies when needed.

Independent Practice

  1. Complete the first half of the Division Practice Worksheet.
  2. Draw groupings or use your dry-erase board.
  3. Raise your hand when finished for a spot-check.

Students work individually on the first half of the Division Practice Worksheet. Encourage drawing equal groups on their dry-erase boards to visualize.

Cool-Down: Exit Ticket

• One multiplication problem and one division problem on the board
• Write your answers & the strategy you used on a sticky note
• Post on the door as you leave
• We’ll review common errors tomorrow

Explain exit ticket procedure: two problems on the board; students write answers and strategies on sticky notes to post as they leave. Review tomorrow morning.

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Worksheet

Multiplication Warm-Up Worksheet

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________

Guided Practice (Problems 1–2)

  1. 3 × 4 = ___



  1. 5 × 2 = ___



Independent Practice (Problems 3–4)

  1. 6 × 3 = ___



  1. 4 × 5 = ___



Cool-Down: Exit Ticket (Problem 5)

  1. 7 × 2 = ___



Tip: Use arrays or skip-counting to help you solve each multiplication problem.

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Worksheet

Division Practice Worksheet

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________

Independent Practice (Problems 1–4)

  1. 12 ÷ 3 = ___



  1. 15 ÷ 5 = ___



  1. 9 ÷ 3 = ___



  1. 8 ÷ 2 = ___



Cool-Down: Exit Ticket (Problem 5)

  1. 14 ÷ 7 = ___



Tip: Draw equal groups or use repeated subtraction to help you solve each division problem.

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Activity

Addition & Subtraction Review Cards

Cut along the dotted lines to create 10 review cards. On each card, students solve the problem on their dry-erase boards.

Card 1
8 + 5 = ___

Card 2
12 - 4 = ___

Card 3
9 + 6 = ___

Card 4
14 - 9 = ___

Card 5
7 + 8 = ___

Card 6
15 - 7 = ___

Card 7
4 + 7 = ___

Card 8
11 - 3 = ___

Card 9
6 + 9 = ___

Card 10
13 - 5 = ___

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