Larger Numbers Problem Solving – Year 3

Build confident mathematical problem solvers with a structured Year 3 unit that connects estimation, strategy choice, accurate calculation and clear explanation.

Students learn to use standard place-value partitioning, flexible partitioning and compensation. They compare strategies, use friendly numbers, check exact answers against estimates and solve practical addition and subtraction problems in context.

The 17-slide editable presentation provides explicit teaching and worked examples. The 22-slide editable quiz includes 10 mixed-format questions, each followed by a matching answer and feedback slide. Colour display, reference, sorting and game resources support whole-class and small-group learning. Differentiated low-ink worksheets provide support, core practice and extended explanation tasks, with matching red answer pages for efficient marking.

The unit concludes with a two-page Smart Strategy Check-In assessment, matching answer pages and a five-level rubric focused on observable problem-solving skills.

What’s Included

• 17-slide editable teaching presentation
• 22-slide editable quiz with 10 questions and matching answer/feedback slides
• 35-page unit plan
• Choose a Smart Strategy classroom display
• Estimate, Solve, Check reference cards
• Estimate, Solve and Sort activity with answer page
• Race to Reasonable game with cards, answer page and recording sheet
• Support and core place-value partitioning worksheets with answers
• Flexible Partitioning worksheet with answer
• Support and core compensation worksheets with answers
• Two Part-Part-Whole Connections worksheets with answers
• Two practical problem-solving worksheets with answers
• Two-page Smart Strategy Check-In assessment with answers
• Five-level rubric
• 74-page/slides combined preview

Learning Focus

• Estimate larger-number addition and subtraction calculations
• Partition numbers by place value and regroup where needed
• Rearrange addends to make friendly numbers
• Use compensation efficiently for subtraction
• Connect addition and subtraction through part-part-whole relationships and inverse facts
• Select, compare and explain calculation strategies
• Check whether exact answers are reasonable
• Solve practical problems and communicate an answer in context

Classroom Use

Use the presentation for explicit teaching and daily review. Print the display and reference cards for classroom support. Run Estimate, Solve and Sort as a collaborative reasoning task and Race to Reasonable as a pair or small-group game. Select support or core worksheets to differentiate independent practice, then use the assessment and rubric at the end of the sequence. The unit is suited to approximately 5–7 mathematics lessons.

Formats and Answer Support

Files are supplied in PDF and editable Microsoft PowerPoint PPTX formats. Thirteen answer pages plus quiz answer/feedback slides are included.

Digital Product and Licence

This is a digital product. No physical item will be shipped. The purchase is for use by the purchasing teacher with their own classes. Do not share, resell, redistribute or upload the files to a public or shared resource library.