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3rd Grade  Project 2 weeks

Multiply to Rescue: Pet Shelter Sprint!

Liz P
CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.B.5
CCSS.Math.Content.3.NBT.A.3
CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.D.8
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
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Purpose

Students will engage in a hands-on project where they use multiplication to plan and manage resources for an animal shelter, fostering real-world problem-solving skills. By collaborating with the Woodford County Humane Society, students will apply mathematical concepts to calculate food, bedding, and other supplies needed for the animals. This project encourages self-directed learning, critical thinking, and a sense of community involvement, culminating in a presentation to classmates that showcases their resource management plans and mathematical strategies.

Learning goals

Students will explore multiplication through hands-on activities by planning daily food and supply needs for animals at a shelter. They will apply multiplication strategies to calculate resources, solve two-step word problems, and use equations to represent unknown quantities. By collaborating with the Woodford County Humane Society, students will engage in critical thinking and problem-solving, while developing self-directed learning skills and a sense of belonging within their community.
Standards
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.B.5 - Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.3.NBT.A.3 - Multiply one-digit whole numbers by multiples of 10 in the range 10—90 (e.g., 9 × 80, 5 × 60) using strategies based on place value and properties of operations.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.D.8 - Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a resource management plan for the Woodford County Humane Society, using multiplication to calculate necessary supplies such as food, bedding, and toys for the animals. They will develop a presentation to share their plan with classmates, demonstrating their understanding of multiplication models and problem-solving strategies. Additionally, students will produce a reflective journal documenting their learning process, insights gained, and how they applied feedback to refine their project.

Launch

To kick off the project, students will visit the Woodford County Humane Society to observe and learn about the daily operations of running an animal shelter. During the visit, students will engage in a scavenger hunt to identify different resources needed for the shelter, such as food, bedding, and cleaning supplies. Back in the classroom, students will brainstorm how multiplication can help in planning and managing these resources efficiently, setting the stage for their project work.

Exhibition

Students will host a presentation for their classmates, showcasing their plans for managing resources at an animal shelter using multiplication. Each group will present a visual model, such as a poster or digital slide, demonstrating how they applied multiplication to solve real-world problems related to food, bedding, and space allocation for the animals. The presentations will include reflections on their learning process, highlighting how they used feedback and self-assessment to refine their strategies.