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Problem-solving maths investigations for year 3.

Hamilton provide an extensive suite of problem-solving maths investigations for Year 3 to facilitate mathematical confidence, investigative inquiry and the development of maths meta skills in 'low floor – high ceiling' activities for all.

Explore all our in-depth problem solving investigations for Year 3 .

Use problem-solving investigations within every unit to encourage children to develop and exercise their ability to reason mathematically and think creatively.

Investigations provide challenges that offer opportunities for the development of the key mathematical skills while deepening conceptual understanding. They are designed to be accessible in different ways to all children. An added bonus is the substantial amount of extra calculation practice they often incorporate! The problems are designed to help children identify patterns, to explore lines of thinking and to reason and communicate about properties of numbers, shapes and measures.

Hamilton provide a mix of our own specially commissioned investigations, that include guidance for teachers together with a child-friendly sheet to guide your pupils through the investigation, as well as links to investigations on other highly regarded websites.

I am very grateful for Hamilton Trust resources, particularly the maths investigations. Julia, teacher in Wiltshire

You can find Hamilton's investigations for Year 3:

• Individually, they are incorporated into every unit in our Year 3 flexible maths blocks .
• Collectively, they appear on our resources page where you can explore all our in-depth problem solving investigations for Year 3 .

Do read our extensive range of advice for more information about the investigations and for tips on how to use them effectively.

Hamilton’s problem-solving investigations are 'low floor, high ceiling' activities that give all children opportunities to develop mastery and mathematical meta-skills. Explore a set for a whole year group.

Hamilton’s Problem-solving Investigations provide school-wide solutions to the challenges of building investigative skills from Early Years to Year 6.

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1 to 3 Digits Multiplication & Division Problems Worksheets Math Problems I

Subject: Mathematics

Age range: 3-5

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

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1 to 3 Digits Multiplication & Division Problems Worksheets Math Problems “Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division Worksheets” is an all-inclusive resource designed to reinforce students’ mastery of fundamental arithmetic operations. This comprehensive product features a diverse range of problems covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, providing students with varied and engaging practice opportunities. Comprehensive Coverage: Worksheets encompass all four basic arithmetic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—ensuring students receive a well-rounded practice experience. Varied Problem Types: Each worksheet offers a mix of problem types, including single-digit, multi-digit, word problems, and real-life scenarios, catering to different learning styles and abilities. Progressive Difficulty: Problems are organized by complexity, allowing students to gradually build their skills and confidence as they progress through the worksheets. Answer Keys: Detailed answer keys accompany each worksheet, providing students with immediate feedback and facilitating self-assessment and correction. Whether used as a comprehensive review, skill reinforcement, or differentiated instruction tool, “Mix All Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division Worksheets” equips students with the necessary skills to excel in arithmetic and problem-solving. Worksheets are made in 8.5” x 11” Standard Letter Size. This resource is helpful in students’ assessment, Independent Studies, group activities, practice and homework. This product is available in PDF format and ready to print as well.

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Year 3 Maths Worksheets UK Hub Page

Welcome to our Year 3 Maths Worksheets area. Here you will find links to our Year 3 Math worksheets for your child will enjoy.

Come and take a look at our multiplication pages, or money flashcards. Perhaps you would prefer our telling the time worksheets, maths games or identifying 2d and 3d shapes in the geometry section?

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Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser .

• This page contains links to other Math webpages where you will find a range of activities and resources.
• If you can't find what you are looking for, try searching the site using the Google search box at the top of each page.

Year 3 Maths Learning

Here are some of the key learning objectives for the end of Year 3:

• know and use Place value up to 1000
• Compare and order numbers up to 1000
• Counting on and back in 1s, 10s and 100s from different starting points
• Position numbers on a number line up to 1000
• know addition and subtraction facts to 20
• add or subtract 1s, 10s or 100s from a 3-digit number
• subtract 2- and 3-digit numbers in columns
• solve problems using addition and subtraction
• count from 0 in multiplies of 4, 8, 50 and 100
• recall and use multiplication and division facts from the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables
• multiply 2-digit numbers by a 1-digit number
• solve problems using multiplication and division
• count up and down in tenths
• understand tenths as decimals
• recognise and use fractions as numbers
• understand and use fractions of objects or shapes
• add and subtract amounts of money
• use £ and p notation correctly
• measure, compare, add and subtract lengths, mass and volume
• measure the perimeter of simple 2D shapes
• tell the time from an analogue clock
• convert between 12- and 24-hour clock
• measure and compare times
• Identify angles including right angles
• identify acute and obtuse angles
• identify horizontal, vertical, parallel and perpendicular lines
• recognise and draw 2D and 3D shapes
• interpret and present data in bar graphs, pictograms and tables
• solve 1-step and 2-step problems using data in tables, pictograms and graphs

Please note:

Our site is mainly based around the US Elementary school math standards.

Though the links on this page are all designed primarily for students in the US, but they are also at the correct level and standard for UK students.

The main issue is that some of the spelling is different and this site uses US spelling.

Year 3 is generally equivalent to 2nd Grade in the US.

On this page you will find link to our range of math worksheets for Year 3.

Quicklinks to Year 3 ...

• Place Value Zone
• Mental Math Zone

Word Problems Zone

Fractions zone.

• Measurement Zone

Geometry Zone

Data analysis zone.

• Fun Zone: games and puzzles

Coronavirus Stay At Home Support

For those parents who have found themselves unexpectedly at home with the kids and need some emergency activities for them to do, we have started to develop some Maths Grab Packs for kids in the UK.

Each pack consists of at least 10 mixed math worksheets on a variety of topics to help you keep you child occupied and learning.

The idea behind them is that they can be used out-of-the-box for some quick maths activities for your child.

They are completely FREE - take a look!

• Free Maths Grabs Packs

Place Value & Number Sense Zone

Year 3 place value charts.

Here you will find a range of Free Printable Number Charts for Years 2 & 3.

These printable charts will help your child learn to read and write numbers.

Some of the charts are partially filled to help your child learn their place value.

Using these sheets will help your child to:

• learn to count in tens and ones;
• learn to read and write numbers.
• Printable Number Charts 0-99
• Hundred Number Charts (100 Squares)
• Number Grid up to 200
• Number Grid up to 300

Place Value & Counting Worksheets

Below are our selection of Place Value, Ordering and Rounding Worksheets

Using these Year 3 Maths worksheets will help your child to:

• learn to count by hundreds, tens, fives, twos and ones;
• learn their place value to Hundreds;
• order numbers to 999.
• Place Value Models and Representations
• Place Value Worksheets 3 Digits
• Math Practice - Counting by 1s 2s 5s 10s 100s

Ordering and Rounding Worksheets (3-digits)

Once your child is confident with their place value to hundreds, they can start learning about ordering and rounding numbers.

The Year 3 Maths worksheets here will help your child learn to compare numbers to 999, and round numbers to the nearest 10.

• Ordering Numbers Worksheets up to 3-Digits

Year 3 Number Line Worksheets

The following webpages involve correctly placing numbers on a number line.

Using these Year 3 maths worksheets will help your child to:

• count by 1s 2s 5s 10s 50s and 100s;
• position numbers on a number line;
• understand place value up to 3 digits.
• Number lines up to 100 (easier)
• Number Line Worksheets 3 Digits

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Year 3 Mental Maths Zone

Here you will find a range of printable mental math sheets for Year 3 to enjoy.

Each quiz tests the children on a range of math topics from number facts and mental arithmetic to geometry, fraction and measures questions.

A great way to revise topics, or use as a weekly math test or math quiz!

• Year 3 Mental Maths Worksheets Series A
• Year 3 Mental Maths Worksheets Series B

Year 3 Addition Worksheets

• learn their addition facts to 20+20
• learn how to solve addition sums where one of the addends is missing, but the total is given;
• learn to add numbers to 999 in columns.
• Number Bonds to 20
• Math Addition Facts to 20
• 2 Digit Column Addition Without Regrouping
• 2 Digit Column Addition Worksheets With Regrouping
• 3 Digit Column Addition Worksheets

Year 3 Subtraction Worksheets

The following worksheets involve using the skills of subtracting numbers, and solving subtraction problems.

• know their subtraction facts to 20;
• know how addition and subtraction are related to each other;
• learn to do 3 digit column subtraction.
• Subtraction Facts to 20 Worksheets
• Two Digit Subtraction Worksheets Without Regrouping
• 2 Digit Subtraction Worksheets With Regrouping
• 3 Digit Subtraction Worksheets

Addition & Subtraction Worksheets

You can create your own addition and subtraction worksheets with our random generator.

All you need to do is to set your number size and let the generator do the rest!

• Addition Subtraction Fact Worksheets
• Column Addition and Subtraction Worksheets

Year 3 Multiplication Worksheets

The following worksheets involve using the Year 3 Maths skills of multiplying, and solving multiplication problems.

• learn their multiplication tables up to 5 x 5;
• understand multiplication as repeated addition;
• learn how multiplication and division are related to each other.

Online Times Table Practice

• Times Tables Online Practice Zone
• Understanding Multiplication Worksheets
• Printable Times Tables - 2 Times Table sheets
• Printable Times Tables - 3 Times Table sheets
• Times Tables for kids - 4 Times Table sheets
• Times Table Math - 5 Times Table sheets
• Learning Times Tables - 8 Times Table

Multiplication Word Problems

• Year 3 Multiplication Word Problems (2nd Grade)

Randomly Generated Multiplication Worksheets

• Times Tables Worksheets (randomly generated)

2 Digit by 1 Digit Written Multiplication

• Multiplication Worksheets for 3rd Grade 2-digits by 1-digit
• Year 3 Division Worksheets

The following worksheets involve using the skills of dividing, and solving division problems.

Using these Year 3 maths worksheets will help your child learn to:

• understand division as repeated subtraction or sharing;
• understand different models of division;
• Division Facts Worksheets (randomly generated)

Here are a range of problems solving sheets for Year 3 children. Most of the sheets contain 'real-life' problems related to animal facts.

Using the sheets will help your child to:

• apply their addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills;
• apply their knowledge of rounding and place value;
• solve a range of 'real life' problems.

These sheets involve solving one or two more challenging longer problems. This link opens in a new tab.

• Year 3 Maths Challenges

These sheets involve solving many 'real-life' problems involving data.

• Year 3 Math Word Problems

These sheets involve solving a range of addition word problems within 100.

• Addition Word Problems 2nd grade

These sheets involve solving a range of subtraction word problems up to 100.

• Subtraction Word Problems 2nd grade
• 2nd Grade Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

These sheets involve solving a range of multiplication problems.

• Multiplication Word Problems Year 3

Year 3 Fraction Worksheets

• understand what a half is;
• shade in half of a shape;
• find different numbers involving 'halves' on a number line;
• find half of different numbers up to 20.
• Fraction Math Worksheets - Understanding a half
• Fraction Riddles for kids (easier)

Year 3 Geometry Worksheets

At a Year 3 level, children are introduced to a wider range of 2d and 3d shapes, and start to learn to reflect, flip and rotate shapes.

They are able to classify and sort two-dimensional shapes using different criteria, and they learn the properties of three-dimensional shapes.

The following worksheets will help your child to:

• Identify and name a range of 2d and 3d shapes;
• Draw 2d shapes;
• Know some of the properties of 2d shapes.
• Year 3 Geometry Worksheets (2nd Grade)

Symmetry Worksheets

• learn how to reflect simple shapes in a horizontal or vertical mirror line;
• learn how to reflect simple shapes in 2 mirror lines.
• Symmetry Worksheets - Block Symmetry

Measurement Zone, including Time & Money

Year 3 measurement worksheets.

These sheets involve reading scales going up in ones, fives, tens and hundreds to find the length, weight or liquid capacity.

Using these sheets will help children to consolidate their counting as well as learning to read a simple scale.

• Year 3 Measurement Worksheets (2nd Grade)

Counting Money Worksheets UK - £2, £1, 50p and 20p coins

Here you will find a selection of Counting Money sheets designed to help your child count different amounts of money using UK coins up to £2.

• count a range of coins up to £5
• compare money amounts
• apply their existing skills to puzzle out clues;
• understand money terminology;
• develop their thinking skills.

The free Year 3 Money worksheets in this section are suitable for children in Years 2 and 3.

• Free Money Worksheets UK Coins up to £1
• Year 3 Money Worksheets to £5
• Money Riddles for Kids (UK coins)
• Year 3 Money Challenges

Time Worksheets

Here are our collection of clock worksheets for Year 3. These sheets cover telling the time for quarter past and quarter to times.

• read times to the nearest 5 minutes;
• convert analogue to digital times;
• adding and subtracting hours from different times.
• Clock Worksheets - Quarter Past and Quarter To
• Telling Time to 5 Minutes Worksheets
• Add and Subtract Time Worksheets

Year 3 Bar Graph Worksheets

These sheets involve reading and interpreting a range of bar graphs and picture graphs with a scale going up in ones or twos.

Draw missing bars on a bar graph to the correct height.

Use the information in a bar graph to add data into a table.

Using the link below will open the 2nd grade Math Salamanders website in a new browser window.

• Year 3 Bar Graphs (2nd Grade)

Fun Zone: Puzzles, Games and Riddles

Year 3 math games.

All children like to play Math games, and you will find a good range of 2nd Grade Math Games here for your child to play and enjoy.

The following games involve different Second Grade Math activities which you and your child can enjoy together.

• Year 3 Math Games (2nd Grade)
• Year 3 Maths Puzzles

The puzzles will help your child practice and apply their addition, subtraction and multiplication facts as well as developing their thinking and reasoning skills in a fun and engaging way.

The Number Square Puzzles page will open a new browser window which will take you to the 2nd grade math salamanders website.

Using these puzzles will help your child to:

• learn their addition facts to 20+20;
• learn and practice subtraction facts to 20;
• pratice multiplying up to 5x5;
• develop thinking and reasoning skills;
• develop perseverance.
• Number Square Puzzles
• Math Puzzles at 2nd Grade Math Salamanders

Math Salamanders Year 3 Maths Games Ebook

Our Year 3 Maths Games Ebook contains all of our fun maths games, complete with instructions and resources.

This ebooklet is available in our store, use the link below to find out more!

• Year 3 Maths Games Ebook

Help & Support

Looking for a resource which is not here.

Take a look at our 2nd Grade Math Salamanders website.

On this site you will find a wider selection of Year 3 maths worksheets and free math resources.

• 2nd Grade Math Salamanders

Other UK Maths Worksheet pages

See below for our other maths worksheets hub pages designed for children in the UK.

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The Math Salamanders hope you enjoy using these free printable Math worksheets and all our other Math games and resources.

We welcome any comments about our site or worksheets on the Facebook comments box at the bottom of every page.

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20 Word Problems For Year 3: Develop Their Problem Solving Skills Across Single and Mixed KS2 Topics

Emma Johnson

Word problems for Year 3 are an important tool for improving number fluency. The key focus in maths in Year 3 of primary school is on ensuring pupils are becoming more fluent with number facts and the concept of place value. Children are starting to develop more efficient written methods by this stage and are beginning to carry out calculations with increasingly larger whole numbers.

As children progress through school, they are exposed to a wider variety of problem solving questions covering a range of concepts. In Year 3 maths these include the four operations, fractions, measures and statistics.  

It is important that children are regularly exposed to reasoning and problem solving questions, alongside the fluency work each lesson. It is also important to remember that all children need exposure to reasoning and problem solving questions, not just the higher attaining pupils who finish quickest.

We have put together a collection of 20 word problems, aimed at Year 3 pupils.

Years 3 to 6 Rapid Reasoning (Weeks 1-6)

Download this free pack of word problems to improve your class' problem solving skills. Includes questions for Years 3 - 6.

Place value

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In Year 3, pupils focus on one-step problems, covering a range of topics across the National Curriculum. At this stage the majority of word problems pupils are tackling will have one-step, but they may also start to be introduced to simple two-step word problems. Here is a breakdown of topics that will be covered and expectations in Year 3. 

Solve number problems and practical problems involving recognising the place value of each digit of a 3-digit number; comparing and ordering numbers up to 1000 and identifying, representing and estimating numbers using different representations.

Solve problems, including missing number problems, using number facts, place value and more complex addition and subtraction word problems .

Solve problems, including missing number problems, involving multiplication and division, including positive integer scaling problems and correspondence problems

 Solve problems involving counting in tenths; recognising unit and non-unit fractions; recognising equivalent fractions and adding/ subtracting fractions with the same denominator.

Solve problems involving length, volume and mass; adding and subtracting within money word problems ; perimeter and problems involving time.

Solve-step and two-step questions (For example, ‘How many more?’ and ‘How many fewer’?) using information presented in scaled bar charts, pictograms and tables.

By Year 3, children are starting to learn how to use some of the formal written methods of addition and subtraction. It is important that the link between maths in school and maths in real-life continues to be made. Word problems are a key element in helping pupils to make this link. 

When teaching maths problems to Year 3, it’s important to think of ways to make them fun, engaging and something the children are able to relate to. This might include acting out the problem, using concrete resources and providing visual images, to bring the problems to life. 

Benefits of pairs, groups and class discussion 

Children should have plenty of opportunity to talk in pairs, groups and as a whole class, to share their understanding of what is being asked and their strategies for solving the problem. As with Key Stage One, the use of manipulatives is important and all children should have access to a range of maths resources when solving problems like this.

Pupils need to be encouraged to read word problems carefully and to make sure they understand what is being asked, before attempting to tackle the problem. This is where the use of a partner and group discussion can really help children’s understanding. Students then need to think about what they already know and how they can use this to help them answer the question. Where appropriate, pupils should also be encouraged to draw diagrams and pictures to help them solve the question.

Here is an example:

Mason needs 4 apples to make an apple pie.

If he has 28 apples. How many apple pies can he make?

How to solve:

What do you already know?

• We know 4 apples are needed to make an apple pie.
• We are told how many apples Mason has in total, so we must have to divide the total number by 4.
• In year 3, children should be building confidence with multiplication and division facts for the 4 times table, so some will be able to quickly recall these facts to solve the problem.
• Children who aren’t apple to recall quickly could use counters to represent the apples, or draw a bar model to help solve it.

How can this be drawn/represented pictorially?

We can draw a bar model or counters to represent this problem:

• To calculate how pies the 28 apples will make, we can either use or draw 28 counters and put them into groups of 4. We can see that 28 counters will make 7 groups of 4.
• Using the bar model, we can keep adding 4 to the bar until we reach 28. From the bar we can see that 7 x 4 = 28.
• 7 apple pies can be made from the 28 apple pies that Mason has.

In Year 3, pupils are exposed to a range of addition word problems , including problems involving mental addition and addition of up to 3-digits using formal written methods.

See also: Mental maths Year 3

Addition question 1

A family driving on holiday, travel 146 miles from home to the first service station.

They then drive a further 175 miles to reach their destination.

How far have they travelled altogether?

Answer (1 mark): 321 miles

146 + 175 = 321

Addition question 2

Evie is buying a bottle of drink from a vending machine. She has put in 40p. The vending machine shows she still needs to put in £1.25. 

How much is the bottle of drink?

Answer (1 mark): £1.65

125p + 40p = 165p

Addition question 3

Jamie scored 643 on his new online game.

Jared scored 468.

How many points did they score between them?

Answer (1 mark): 1111 points

643 + 468 = 1111

At Third Space Learning we often tie word problems into our one-to-one online tuition. With each programme personalised to the needs of each individual student, children are able to develop their problem solving skills, maths fluency and grow confidence in maths.

Subtraction word problems in Year 3 also need to comprise of a combination of mental calculation questions and those involving formal written subtraction up to 3-digits. Children should also be starting to estimate answers and check their calculations by using the inverse.

Subtraction question 1

Ahmed collects 374 stickers.

He needs 526 stickers to fill his sticker album.

How many more stickers does he need to collect?

Answer (1 mark): 152 stickers

526 – 374 = 152

Subtraction question 2

 A bag of carrots weigh 360g

A bag of tomatoes weighs 235g.

How much heavier is the bag of carrots?

Answer (1 mark): 125g

360 – 235 = 125

Subtraction question 3

 Ahmed buys a bag of sweets for £1.45.

He has a £2 coin. How much change will he get?

Answer (1 mark): 55p

200 – 145 or count up from £1.45 to £2

By the end of Year 3, pupils should be able to recall and use multiplication facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times table. They should also be starting to progress to using the formal written method for solving multiplication word problems involving 2 digits multiplied by a 1-digit number. 

Multiplication question 1

It costs £7 for a cinema ticket

Amber’s mum pays for Amber and her 3 friends. 

How much does she pay for all the tickets?

Answer (1 mark): £28

7 x 4 = 28 

Multiplication question 2

5 mini buses are used to take Year 3 pupils on a school trip.

Each minibus transports 15 children.

How many children go on the school trip?

Answer (1 mark): 75 children

15 x 5 = 75

Multiplication question 3

There are 24 questions on a word problems worksheet. 

A group of 8 children each complete the worksheet.

How many questions will the teacher be marking?

Answer (1 mark): 112 questions

24 x 8 = 112

In Year 3, pupils will need to learn the division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables. At this stage, pupils are required to learn the formal method for division, division word problems will involve mainly mental calculations.

Division question 1

6 children share 18 cookies between them. 

How many cookies does each child get?

 Answer (1 mark): 3 cookies

Division question 2

The school choir needs to travel to the concert hall.

There are 32 children in the choir and parents have been asked to help transport the children.

Each parent is able to take 4 children in their car. How many cars will be needed to get all the children to the concert?

Answer (1 mark): 8 cars

 32 ÷ 4 = 8

Division question 3

 Cakes come in packs of 4.

If Jessica needs 36 cakes for her party, how many packs does she need to buy?

Answer (1 mark): 9 packs

In Year 3 pupils are exposed to a range of fraction word problems , including questions involving counting up and down in tenths; equivalent fractions and adding/subtracting fractions with the same denominator.

Fraction question 1

Jude had 28 sweets.

He gave \frac{1}{4} of his sweets to his little sister.

How many did he have left?

Answer (1 mark): 21 sweets

\frac{1}{4} of 28 = 7

\frac{3}{4} of 28 = 21 or 28 – 7 = 21

Fraction question 2

Khalifa ate \frac{2}{8} of the chocolate bar and Abdulrahman ate \frac{3}{8} of it.

How much chocolate did they have left?

Answer (1 mark): \frac{3}{8}

\frac{2}{8} + \frac{3}{8} = \frac{5}{8} eaten

\frac{8}{8} – \frac{5}{8} = \frac{3}{8}

Fraction question 3

 Molly ate half of a pizza and Rosie ate \frac{3}{6} .

Who ate the most?

Answer (1 mark): They both ate the same amount

\frac{3}{6} is equivalent to \frac{1}{2} .

In Year 3 time word problems may be incorporated into maths problem solving. Students are expected to know time vocabulary, be able to compare time in terms of seconds, minutes and hours and know how many seconds are in a minute and minutes are in an hour. 

Time question 1

The Smith family are driving to the beach.

They leave at 9:05am and arrive at 9:50am.

How long does the journey take them?

Answer (1 mark): 45 minutes

50 – 5 = 45    or     count up from 9:05 to 9:50 = 45 

Time question 2

Holly puts her cake in the oven at 4:22pm and takes it out again at 4:47. 

How long is the cake baking for?

Answer (1 mark): 25 minutes

47 – 22 = 25    or   count up from 4:22 to 4:47

When children first move into lower Key Stage 2, word problems are predominantly one-step. As they become more confident they can be exposed to more word problems, requiring a second step or multi-step word problems .

Multi-step question 1

Oliver had 3 bags of sweets.

Each bag contained 15 sweets.

If he shared the sweets between him and 4 friends, how many sweets would they all 5 of them get?

Answer (2 marks): 9 sweets

3 x 15 = 45 

45  ÷ 5 = 9

Multi-step question 2

A teacher photocopies 95 maths worksheets and 80 English worksheets in one week.

Teachers can print a maximum of 300 worksheets per week. 

How many can the teacher print for other subjects.

Answer (2 marks): 125 worksheets

 95 + 80 = 175

300 – 175 = 125

Multi-step question 3

Three friends go trick or treating. They add all their sweets together and share them out, so they all have an equal number of sweets.

If Ben gets 34 sweets, Sophie gets 28 and Maisie gets 22 sweets. How many will they each get, once they have put them together and shared them out?

Answer (2 marks): 28 sweets each

34 + 28 + 22 = 84 sweets

84  ÷ 3 = 28

We hope that this collection of word problems for Year 3 becomes a useful resource in your Year 3 maths classroom. For more Year 3 maths resources, take a look at our library of Year 3 maths worksheets .

Third Space Learning also offers a wide array of maths and word problems resources for other year groups such as word problems for year 6 , word problems for Year 5 and word problems for year 4 . Our practice word problems cover all four operations and include more specific topics such as percentage word problems and ratio word problems .

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Mr Barton Maths Podcast

Long-form conversations about teaching and learning with craig barton, tes top 10 resources: problem solving and rich tasks.

The following collection of resources have been assembled by the TES Maths Panel . They can be downloaded for free by registering on the TES website.

Here, I have compiled my top 10 problem solving and rich tasks. Enjoy there are some crackers in here.

Carpet your bedroom – functional maths

Age Range:  11-16  Format:  PPT

An activity for students to design a tessellation of carpet tiles for their bedroom. From the design, they need to work out costs from screenshots of carpet tile prices, calculate the cost of the glue. There are three levels to this task, from a basic bronze version to the gold version which includes an algebra extension related to cost of getting a carpet fitted. Very real world focus and some good discussion if you let the students use their own bedroom.

Rich maths tasks to engage KS3

Age Range:  11-16  Format :  Webpage

This website includes many helpful resources relating to the pedagogy associated with Rich Tasks as well as many sources for further tasks. Each Rich Task has been trialled in the classroom and most are accompanied by a detailed task plan which contains an overview and lesson plan.

Maths investigations

Age Range:  11-16  Format:  PDF

Based on science tasks produced in East Sussex, these investigation starter sheets give an introduction to a topic for investigation and progression guide to allow self- and peer-assessment. Targeted at year 7, these may be suitable for several year groups in KS2/3. Please note that the levelling guide is a first draft and may change.

Maths mystery activity: Thinking skills

This is an ideal thinking skills activity for higher KS3 and KS4 students. This is a mystery activity, where learners are presented with a set of cards containing clues to answer a central focus question, in this case: ‘Does Amelie make it to the catwalk?’. Learners will need to work together (in pairs or threes) and use various strands of mathematics to be able to make sense of the clues and come to a conclusion.

My bedroom: Lesson plans and activities 

This is a complete pack of activities, interactive whiteboards and lesson plans for KS3. This activity can be done in pairs or individually. It has lots of differentiation opportunities from the various materials I have created to provide help in groups, individuals or to the whole class, depending on ability. In addition to this, there are also two good extension activities.

Functional maths skills and enterprise task

Age Range:  11-16  Format:  Excel

This is a business game where players compete to make as much money as possible from an initial investment of £200. All pupils need to do is decide how much to spend on making their product, what the sale price should be and the amount to spend on advertising. When every group has entered their decisions into the spreadsheet the figures are compared and sales are decided. Pupils can then predict their available capital for the next round to earn a cash bonus. It was used across the department with all ages and abilities.

Mathematical Rich Tasks

I created this website with a BECTA grant. There are resources (written, interactive, audio and video) to support teachers and students accessing six rich mathematical tasks, that are ripe for creative exploration!

Holiday planning maths investigation

Age Range:  11-16  Format:  Doc & PDF

A structured problem-solving activity based on booking a holiday for a family of four. Includes a resource booklet containing flight, accommodation, car hire and passport prices, and a task sheet setting students task. Suitable for able KS2 pupils. Also includes differentiation by increasing level of difficulty in the tasks set.

Nrich  differentiated mathematical problem solving

Age Range:  11-18  Format:  WEB

Focussed mathematical problem solving on all the required topics of any mathematical syllabus. A good resource to include in the gifted and talented policy and something that allows the children to access mathematics with real-life problem solving, taking them away from the more difficult abstract questions.

Functional mathematics lessons – projects

Age Range:  11-16  Format:  WEB

Maths functional skills classroom projects to use in lessons. Projects designed for one at the end of each half term for years 7, 8 and 9.

Damian Watson,  Maths Secondary Panel

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