Third graders can practice drawing a building's layout on graph paper. For this project, they will need to measure the rooms of one floor of their homes to ascertain the length and width of each room and the location of windows and doors. Using this information, they can then work in class to plot out the outlines of the floor's rooms complete with simple notations for doors and windows. The grid's squares can each represent a given unit, such as a square foot, to help them plot the length and width of each room accurately to scale. At the end, they can label each room and talk about area or square footage of each blueprint.
Within a year or two, third graders will need to know how to plot points on a grid using the x-axis and y-axis. Using rulers and copies of the x- and y-axes, they can take given points on the grid. Provide points in the (x, y) format and have students plot the positions of each point on a grid until they discover the point locations. Make certain to use negative numbers on the axes as well as positive to get them acclimated to all quarters of the grid. When the points are connected with straight lines, they will create a simple, recognizable image. Give the students different projects in this way to help them fully grasp the concept and build a foundation of understanding for future mathematics.
A blank piece of graph paper or a pre-made grid can provide the boundaries for creative design. As a project, provide an open-ended question or scenario that involves designing an object that has dimensions. A good sample scenario to offer might be, "You are part of a survey team consisting of three to four people. You have discovered a new planet, but must build a vehicle to use to explore it." The students then must draw their imaginative creations out on the grid using straight lines. Assign units of measurement for each square on the grid and ask them to determine how many of these units will be needed to create their objects in two-dimensional space. This is a good foundation for finding area in later mathematics.
Grids are used for visual displays of information. Teaching third graders to use a grid to create line, area or bar graphs will support their learning for years to come. After practicing various types of charts using grids, combine a fact-finding assignment with assembling the information on a grid using one forming of graphing that they have learned. Allow them to color in bar graphs or decorate their charts to emphasize important parts of their findings.