Math skills learned in third grade are something a student will use throughout his life. He needs to be able to add and subtract numbers up to 20 in his head and have a firm grasp of multiplication and division. He should be able to add and subtract money and understand basic math word problems. Problem solving should extend to measurements, such as inches, feet and yards, as well as time and temperature. By third grade, he should understand the concept of two- and three-dimensional objects. Word problems and hands-on activities can assist in those problem-solving skills. Word problems include questions like "Sarah's mom made 12 cookies. Sarah ate half of them. How many cookies are left?" Hands-on activities include building three-dimensional structures and determining the perimeter or volume.
By third grade, kids are becoming less insular and more curious about the world around them. Parents know that their favorite questions are "Why? and "How?" How do planes fly? Why does soda foam out of the bottle when you shake it? Why does water freeze? The simple answer is science, but showing and doing is better than learning from a textbook. One of the best ways for a third grader to develop problem-solving skills to answer these questions is through experiments and science fair projects. Simple experiments such as the dancing raisins, in which raisins rise to the top of carbonated soda, and the classic lemon-battery project make good visual aids to help them develop basic problem-solving skills.
Third graders have already learned to read; now they must read to learn. Problems they'll confront include vocabulary expansion and reading comprehension. Applying problem-solving comprehension skills will help them grasp meaning from the printed word. This can be done through problem-solving skills related to their own lives. They can compare fictional literary characters to real-life experiences, such as hardships faced by pioneers to what some families cope with today, and by comparing similarities in multicultural literature to their own lives, such as clothing, food, games and dialects.
As third graders become more socialized, they must learn to develop skills to cope with problems that arise in their interpersonal relationships. They need to learn to harness emotions and respond in an appropriate manner. Teaching students to stop before they react and have a plan ready can aid in this skill. Teach them to remain calm and think before doing and then enact their plan. Have the students brainstorm ideas for social problem solving and understanding the difference between anger and hurt feelings. They will learn how they can't control what others do but can control how they react. This can be illustrated with puppet shows that depict specific scenarios, as well as role-playing games and essay writing where students are given hypothetical situations and then act them out or write about them.