Addition Games for 3rd Graders

A 3rd grade child, has by now gained sufficient proficiency in understanding mathematics and is familiar with some of the math symbol involved. The approach of doing math is instilled in a third grader, and the mathematically proficient child starts to associate math with solving problems and discussing how they solved them.

Third grade kids may use concrete objects or pictures to help them conceptualize a given problem. Children of this age develop the required math skills and can now put these in use.

They understand the meaning of various quantities and how they are expressed. They can easily connect the quantities with written symbols and create a logical representation (which is a math equation)of the math problem at hand.

Grade 3 mathematics helps in building the desired math skills and proficiency, by experimenting with multiple ways to represent problems, apart from using proper numbers and symbols to build mathematical word problems, the new to the list is making charts, lists or graphs etc.

The mathematically proficient child in third grade should notice repetitive actions in computation and look for more shortcut methods. For example, a student may use commutative or associative property along with number lines to come to a conclusion.

Grade 3 math addition problems deal with :

• 3 digit and 1 digit addition with regrouping
• 3 digit and 2 digit addition with regrouping and without regrouping
• 3-digit and 3-digit addition with regrouping and without regrouping
• Learning to add numbers within 1000
• Solving two step problems

Even and Odd Number Addition

Example: Determining whether 6 is an even number or odd number.

1. We can use buttons as math aids for problem solving. Start grouping them in pairs, if there is no single button left, then the number is even.  

2. We can try and break the number into two equal numbers. We can use buttons for this also. Let’s use the same example, number 6.

3. Determine the even or odd number by drawing rectangular boxes. If every box on the right matches a box on the left then the number is even.  We can use buttons again.

Since none of the buttons are left unpaired, this means that 6 is an even number.

An even number is an amount that can be made of two equal parts with no leftovers. An odd number is one that is not even or cannot be made of two equal parts.

3rd grade math also mentions identifying patterns related to the properties of operations. Take for examples,

• Even numbers can always be decomposed into 2 equal addends  (14 = 7 + 7).

• An even number added to itself n number of times will result in an even number. (2+2= 4;   2+2+2= 6 ;         4+4+4+4 =16 ). In all these examples, 4,6, 16 all are even numbers.

• Adding two different even numbers together will also result in an even number. (6+4 =10;       16 + 8 = 22)

• On an addition chart, the sums in each row and column increase by the same amount.

What patterns do you notice in this addition table? Explain why the pattern works this way?

Students need ample opportunities to observe and identify important numerical patterns related to operations. They should build on their previous experiences with properties related to addition and subtraction. Students investigate

addition and multiplication tables in search of patterns and explain why these patterns make sense mathematically.

Example:

• Any sum of two even numbers is even.

• Any sum of two odd numbers is even.

• Any sum of an even number and an odd number is odd.

• The doubles (2 addends the same) in an addition table fall on a diagonal

Solve two-step word problems

Keeping in mind that a third grade student can add up to 1000, we can design a two-step addition word problem.

Take, for example, On a vacation, your family travels 267 miles on the first day, 194 miles on the second day and 34 miles on the third day. How many total miles did they travel?

There can be different math strategies used for the addition  :

• Look at 267 and 34. The sum is close to 300; 301. Now the third number is 194 which is very close to 200 ( 6 values less). Putting 301 and 200 together, the final is 501. Now remembering that the addend is 6 value less than 200, so substituting it here, we get to the solution of the addition problem as 495. Here one utilizes the associative property of addition, as the numbers can be added in any order, the sum will be the same.

Use Place value to add within 1000

What is a place value?  

A numerical value associated with a digit by virtue of its position in a number such as ones, tens, hundreds etc.

For Example:

There are 178 fourth graders and 225 fifth graders on the playground. What is the total number of kids on the playground?

Now arranging the two numbers according to place values and adding individual place values together.

So, now adding the hundreds together, tens together and ones together to find the addition of these two numbers.

• 100 + 200 = 300
• 70 + 20 = 90
• 8 + 5 = 13

So, total becomes, 300 + 90 + 13 = 403 kids

Using Manipulatives

The Rubik’s cube Addition: Adding three 3 digit numbers

A Rubik cube can be used as a math number generator.

The teacher should label the Rubik cube with numbers all over as shown in the picture. Now by turning the layers around, every time three different numbers will be generated.

Ask the student to add up the three numbers displayed in their respective notebooks.

This will make the addition of three digit numbers fun for the kids.

If the addition is to be limited up to 1000, then the Rubik cube should be numbers between 1-4.

NUMBERS GAME : 3 digit fun math game

Steps :  

• A set of balls/bubbles carrying two 3 digit number fall into the screen encapsulated in a box.
• A student is given 1 minute to the maximum to add the numbers.
• There will be numbered balls floating in the space.
• To type the correct answer, start from the ones place and click on the correct numbered ball to be placed at the ones place. Move onto the next place value. For example, in the above picture, the two numbers to be added are 325+143; the sum is   468, so click on the 8 numbered ball, then 6 numbered ball and at last 4 numbered ball to give the answer.
• If the answer is correct, these balls will vanish and next set of balls will fall in.
• If the answer is incorrect, then these balls will remain in their place but the number displayed on it will disappear. In this case, also the next set of balls will fall in.
• The game window also has a time and the counter which notes down the questions answered correctly.  

The Number Slot Machine : 3 – digit addition without regrouping

Steps for the math game :

• Design a slot machine, that rolls out any two three digit numbers on the screen in two different colors.
• This math educational game is designed for addition of three digit number without regrouping or carry.
• Perform the desired addition task.
• When the one’s place is flashing, roll the gear to get the correct addition of the ones digits.
• Similarly, when the ten’s place starts flashing, roll the gear to get to the correct answer.
• Same is for the hundreds’ place.
• Once the child adds the numbers correctly. The JACKPOT is displayed on the screen ( Hits the Jackpot).
• Three candies roll out in the basket and then next set of addition problem is displayed.
• Collect as many candies for the score.
• This game is based on operand conditioning by Skinner.

Supermarket Addition

This is a simple math activity or educational game, where a set of items carrying price tags are displayed in a departmental store. While adding items to the cart, an addition problem appears on the right-hand side of the screen. Add up all the values to check out the cart from the departmental store.

This math educational game for kids is apt for building math skills linking it with the real-world problems.

A similar math worksheet can also be designed based on the same concept. This particular math worksheet can be designed for adding :

• 3 digit number and 2-digit number with regrouping.
• Two 3-digit numbers with regrouping.

Lost in the words: two step addition word problem :

Be a math magician by solving these simple math problems.

A two-step math word problem appears on the screen. The child performs the desired math operation and chooses amongst the 4 options provided.

If the answer is correct, 10 dollars are added into the counter. And next step of math problem appears on the screen.

Adding three 3 digit numbers: Fun math activity for kids

Add numbers in each row and write the final in the circle

Add number in each column and write the final answer in the circle below.  

About SplashLearn

The puzzle games and math worksheets focus on single digit addition, double-digit addition,2 digit addition with regrouping, 3-digit addition etc. These funbrain games help the children to master the skill of simple addition without compromising on their playtime.

The simple math blasters and math riddles are designed by people having expertise in early childhood education programs and home schooling curriculum.

The SplashLearn lab activities and adding games help the child to explore mathematical ideas by doing. Its emphasis on the heuristic approach of learning.  

Engaging yourself and your child in SplashLearn play helps your child to develop math educational skills and important life skills to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of this competitive world while having fun.