3rd Grade Geometry: 7 Math Games

These 7 games have everything you need for teaching CCSS-aligned third-grade geometry for only $1 each! There are 3-4 games for each geometry Common Core standard (3.G.A.1 and 3.G.A.2) focusing on exploration of plane shapes and dividing plane shapes into equal parts. The key concepts covered include:

• Identifying and defining two-dimensional shapes based on their attributes
• Identifying rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as quadrilaterals
• Describing, analyzing, and comparing properties of plane figures
• Comparing and classifying plane shapes by attributes, sides and angles
• Grouping plane shapes with shared attributes
• Drawing shapes and dividing them into equal parts
• Drawing shapes and describing the area of each part as a fractional part of the whole

Although the games are perfect for two-player math stations, math centers, math tubs, etc., you can engage your students in meaningful problem-solving discussions by having them all play the same game at the same time for about 10 minutes per day. This is a math partner game routine I've created and explained thoroughly in the preview download.

DOWNLOAD PREVIEW HERE

These are the three main benefits to having all kids play the same game at the same time: 1) You can conduct mini-lessons and strategy discussions around shared experiences before and after gameplay, 2) You can focus on facilitating critical thinking and observing students' problem-solving attempts during gameplay, and 3) Students play the same game for a week, so you have lots of targeted opportunities for reinforcing higher-level thinking skills, identifying and addressing misconceptions, and scaffolding student learning.

There are so many games included in this product that you can play some during math partner game routines, use some as small group lessons or whole class lesson activities, place some in your math centers, and even send some home for students to play with their families! The game cards and resources can double as student manipulatives during math lessons. Each and every one of these versatile games features:

- Integration of higher-level thinking and critical thinking skills (not just rote practice)
- Hands-on activities through which kids actively construct knowledge: no worksheets!
- Options for open-ended gameplay so that students are not "finished" until time is up
- "Challenge" activities to extend gameplay and/or differentiate it
- "Math Talk" questions/prompts to encourage students to analyze strategies and reflect orally or in writing about what they're learning

These two-player math games were created for (not retro-fitted to) the increased rigor of the CCSS, so they will be challenging for most students. The games are designed to help you model and reinforce the math practices and core content skills that students will need when solving complex, multi-step word problems. Here's what you'll get in the product download:

* 20 pages of info and forms that contain everything you need to get started with math partner games. There are blank partner game lists, tips (with photos!) for how to create/ store/ organize/ distribute/ collect the games, and lots of ideas for how the games can be used for skill-based mini lessons and math journal reflections.

* 8 pages of game instructions: there's one page for each game, featuring the materials needed, directions for gameplay, a Challenge activity, Math Talk
questions/prompts, the CCSS alignment, and student-friendly "I Can" statements.

* 39 pages of outer space/solar system-themed game boards and mats, game cards, spinners, and other colorful and fun materials for gameplay. Most of the materials are open-ended and can be used in lots of different ways so you have fewer items to print and create. The only additional items you need to provide are page protector sheets, Vis-à-vis or dry-erase markers, and paper clips to make spinners.

UPDATED: PRINT AND GO! You now get a zip folder with your purchase that includes individual PDFs for each game! If you only want to print and use one game at a time, you can easily print just the PDF with that game’s instructions and materials.

NOTE: This product does NOT contain materials for geometric measurement (area and perimeter: 3.MD.5, 3.MD.6, 3.MD.7, 3.MD.9). Some teachers address those skills within their geometry unit while others address it within their measurement unit. I will be selling the geometric measurement resources as a separate product so you can buy only what you need.

ALSO NOTE: I have adapted each game concept to meet the level of rigor required at the corresponding grade level, and no two games are exactly alike. However, because is some overlap in the geometry standards between grades 1-3, some of the games and materials in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade geometry products are very similar. Please keep this in mind when considering whether to purchase games for multiple grade levels.


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See what other teachers are saying!

Great resource to help students practice geometry standards. - Daniele Della Gala

Easy to implement in the class. Students were easily able to take a game and complete it without my assistance. - Jamie R.

Fun practice!!!! Perfect for my Math Workshop!!! - Jen M.

Great activities... used throughout our geometry unit for games and reinforcement! - Emilie M.

Love, Love, Love! I am just about to start this unit and this is perfect and makes my planning so much easier. Thank you so much for the work you put into this!!! :) - Teaching 4 Real

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3rd Grade Number & Operations in Base Ten: 12 Common Core games for place value
3rd Grade Operations & Algebraic Thinking: 11 Math Partner Games for Common Core
3rd Grade Fractions Math Partner Games:10 Games Designed for Common Core
Discussion Starters for Math Problem Solving: Questions for modeling and reinforcing CCSS
Multiplication KITs: Fun math fact practice games for centers or homework
Addition KITs: Fun math fact practice games for centers or homework

Be sure to check out my website where there are hundreds of pages of classroom management resources that make teaching more effective, efficient, and enjoyable! You'll find photos, activities, printable forms/posters, and more.

Enjoy!

Angela

TruthforTeachers.com