1. 3rd Grade Math Power Pix Kate Bowski Common Core Edition
Whole Brain Teaching
3rd Grade Math
Power Pix
Kate Bowski
WholeBrainTeaching.com

2. Third Grade Math Power Pix
Developed by Kate Bowski
Design & idea created by Chris Biffle
For more information, visit
Whole Brain Teaching

3. Third Grade Math Power Pix
This document highlights 30 topics specific to 3rd grade Math as defined by the Common Core State Standards. Based on an idea conceived by Chris Biffle, founder of Whole Brain Teaching, these pictures can be used to actively teach students the core concepts of a 3rd grade math program. Each Power Pix references the standards in which the word is addressed: Operations & Algebraic Thinking (OA), Number & Operations in Base 10 (NBT), Number & Operations – Fractions (NF), Measurement & Data (MD) and Geometry (G) .
Using Power Pix and Whole Brain Teaching methods, learning becomes multi-modal, thereby solidifying the concepts in students’ brains. When used as a teaching tool, the Power Pix help the teacher with gestures and definitions to attach to each concept. Whether printed out or projected on a screen, these Power Pix give the students a visual reference for all major Math concepts. When posted in the room, the Power Pix become an interactive resource for students to use as a review tool. Imagine filling every spare moment of classroom time by having students review with each other content specific topics. Now that’s maximizing instruction!
The following slide shows how to use each pix.

4. Language Arts concepts have a blue background.
Common Core Standard
Operations & Algebraic Thinking (OA)
Number & Operations in Base Ten (NBT)
Number & Operations – Fractions (NF)
Measurement & Data (MD)
Geometry (G)
Question and Answer for the topic
Grade Level
Concept Word – colors represent
syllables to help students with
pronunciation
Picture(s) representing the key word of the standard
Gesture
The red background on these slides identifies them as part of math concepts.
Language Arts concepts have a blue background.

5. Sample Power Pix Lesson
Each WBT lesson follows a format.
1. Question – tell students the question and they repeat
2. Answer – give the answer with a gesture.
3. Expand – use examples to scaffold instruction about concept
4. Evaluate – quick assessment to guide instruction
5. Critical Thinking – students begin to internalize the concept
Question: What is multiplication?
Answer: Multiplication is putting together equal groups.
Gesture: Cross arms like an X. (multiplication) Clasp hands together. (putting together) Put one arm horizontal over the other like an equal sign. (equal groups)
Teaching Suggestions:
Connect repeated addition to the concept of multiplication.
Students write multiplication problems for pictures projected on the board. Begin to
introduce “factor” and “product”. Share problems using Oral Writing.
Students draw a picture of equal groups and then write an equation for it.
Given a multiplication problem, students create a story problem to match.
Students draw arrays for given multiplication problems.

6. Sample Power Pix Lesson (con’t.)
Q/T: Multiplication is putting together equal groups.
Factors are the answers to multiplication problems.
Products are the answers to multiplication problems.
The times sign means “groups of”.
4 + 6 = 10 is an example of a multiplication problem.
7 x 2 means 7 groups of 2.
Critical Thinking:
Encourage students to speak complete sentences explaining multiplication.
(3 x 5 = 15 because ______.)
Factors are like factories because ________________.
Multiplication is more efficient than addition because ______________.
Multiplication is repeated addition. For example, ____________.
Factors and products are like main ideas and details because _________.

7. Words Included in Math Power Pix
Addition, array, area, associative property, attribute, bar graph, compare, commutative property, data, denominator, distributive property, division, equivalent fraction, factor, fraction, line plot, mass, multiple, multiplication, numerator, perimeter, place value, picture graph, product, property, quadrilateral, quotient, subtraction, rounding, volume

8. addition Third Grade NBT.A.2 Question: What is addition?
Answer: Addition is putting together.
Third Grade
NBT.A.2
addition
Gesture: Cross arms like a plus sign. (addition) Clasp hands together. (putting together)

9. array Third Grade OA.A.3 Question: What is an array?
Answer: A square or rectangular pattern made up of rows and columns.
Third Grade
OA.A.3
array
Gesture: Draw a rectangle in the air with finger. Move one hand right to left (rows) and then up and down (columns).

10. area Third Grade MD.C.5 Question: What is area?
Answer: The surface inside a shape.
Third Grade
MD.C.5
area
Gesture: Draw a square in the air then “wipe” the inside of it with the other hand.

11. ( ) associative property Third Grade OA.B.5
Question: What is the associative property?
Answer: Grouping numbers with parenthesis when adding or multiplying.
Third Grade
OA.B.5
associative property
( )
Gesture: Hold up 2 cupped hands like parenthesis.

12. attribute Third Grade MD.C.5 Question: What is an attribute?
Answer: A characteristic.
Third Grade
MD.C.5
attribute
Gesture: Hold up 2 hands and rub fingers together as if feeling something in each hand. Then flatten hands out, palms down. (Sign language for “characteristic”.)

13. bar graph Third Grade MD.B.3 Question: What is a bar graph?
Answer: A graph using bars to show data.
Third Grade
MD.B.3
bar graph
Gesture: Put right arm straight up, bend the left at the elbow so it is parallel to the right. (bars) Draw tallies in the air. (data)

14. compare Third Grade NF.A.3
Question: What does it mean to compare in math?
Answer: Compare tells if something is less than, greater than, or equal to..
Third Grade
NF.A.3
compare
Gesture: Clasp hands together. (compare) Put palms facing each other close together (less than), pull hands farther apart (greater than). Put one arm horizontal over the other. (equal)

15. commutative property Third Grade OA.B.5
Question: What is the commutative property?
Answer: The “flip flop” property. We can add or multiply numbers in any order.
Third Grade
OA.B.5
commutative
property
Gesture: Hold out 2 hands, palms up. Then flip so palms are down, then back up again.

16. data Third Grade MD.B.3 Question: What is data?
Answer: Information we collect.
Third Grade
MD.B.3
data
Gesture: Draw tallies in the air.

17. denominator Third Grade NF.A.1 Question: What is a denominator?
Answer: The bottom number in a fraction that represents the total.
Third Grade
NF.A.1
denominator
Gesture: Put one fist over the other. (represents numerator and denominator) Wiggle the bottom fist.

18. distributive property
Question: What is the distributive property?
Answer: Multiplying across a group of added numbers individually.
Third Grade
OA.B.5
distributive property
Gesture: Cross arms like an X. (multiplying) Cross arms like a plus. (added numbers). Move finger in a tapping motion across front of body. (individually)

19. division Third Grade OA.A.3 Question: What is division?
Answer: Division is breaking a set into equal groups.
Third Grade
OA.A.3
division
Gesture: With palms together, “slice” hands downward. (division) Make a breaking motion as if breaking a twig. (breaking a set) Put one arm horizontal over the other like an equal sign. (equal groups)

20. equivalent fraction Third Grade NF.A.3
Question: What is an equivalent fraction?
Answer: Equivalent fractions have the same value but look different.
Third Grade
NF.A.3
equivalent fraction
Gesture: Put one arm horizontal over the other. (equal) Put one fist over the other. (fraction) Point index fingers to ceiling and move back and forth in opposite directions. (same) Put hands up to eyes like binoculars.

21. 3 x 5 = 15 factor factors Third Grade OA.A.1
Question: What is a factor?
Answer: The numbers multiplied together to get a product.
Third Grade
OA.A.1
factor
3 x 5 = 15
factors
Gesture: “Flash” 5 fingers on one hand then the other. (numbers) Cross arms like an X. (multiplied)

22. fraction Third Grade NF.A.1 Question: What is a fraction?
Answer: A fraction represents a part of a whole.
Third Grade
NF.A.1
fraction
Gesture: Put one fist over the other. (represents numerator and denominator)

23. line plot Third Grade MD.B.3 Question: What is a line plot?
Answer: A number line showing data.
Third Grade
MD.B.3
line plot
Gesture: Draw a line in the air. (number line) Draw tallie marks in the air. (data)

24. mass Third Grade MD.A.2 Question: What is mass?
Answer: The amount of matter in an object.
Third Grade
MD.A.2
mass
Gesture: Hold 2 hands out, palms facing up. Move them up and down in opposite directions.

25. multiple Third Grade OA.A.3 Question: What is a multiple?
Answer: The numbers we say when we skip count.
Third Grade
OA.A.3
multiple
Gesture: Make a “hopping” motion with your index finger moving from right to left.

26. multiplication Third Grade OA.A.3 Question: What is multiplication?
Answer: Multiplication is putting together equal groups.
Third Grade
OA.A.3
multiplication
Gesture: Cross arms like an X. (multiplication) Clasp hands together. (putting together) Put one arm horizontal over the other like an equal sign. (equal groups)

27. numerator Third Grade NF.A.1 Question: What is a numerator?
Answer: The top number in a fraction that represents the part.
Third Grade
NF.A.1
numerator
Gesture: Put one fist over the other. (represents numerator and denominator) Wiggle the top fist.

28. perimeter Third Grade MD.D.8 3.G.A.1 Question: What is perimeter?
Answer: The distance around an object.
Third Grade
MD.D.8
3.G.A.1
perimeter
Gesture: Draw a triangle in the air.

29. place value Third Grade NBT.A.1 Question: What is place value?
Answer: The value of a digit based on its position in a number.
Third Grade
NBT.A.1
place value
Gesture: Hold up fingers 1, 2, 3. (value of a digit) Move hand across front of body as if drawing 3 small lines to show ones, tens, hundreds. (position in a number)

30. picture graph Third Grade MD.B.3 Question: What is a picture graph?
Answer: A graph using pictures to show data.
Third Grade
MD.B.3
picture graph
Gesture: Pretend to take a picture. Draw tallies in the air. (data)

31. product 3 x 5 = 15 product Third Grade OA.A.1
Question: What is a product?
Answer: The answer to a multiplication problem.
Third Grade
OA.A.1
product
3 x 5 = 15
product
Gesture: Point index fingers, one on chin, the other a little lower. Then point them in a forward direction away from chin. (Sign language for “answer”.) Then cross arms like an X. (multiplication)

32. property Third Grade OA.B.5 Question: What is a property?
Answer: A special characteristic.
Third Grade
OA.B.5
property
Gesture: Hold up 2 hands and rub fingers together as if feeling something in each hand. Then flatten hands out, palms down. (Sign language for “characteristic”.)

33. 4 quadrilateral Third Grade 3.G.A.1 Question: What is a quadrilateral?
Answer: A 4 sided shape.
Third Grade
3.G.A.1
quadrilateral 4
Gesture: Hold up 4 fingers then draw a rectangle in the air.

34. quotient 21 ÷ 3= 7 quotient Third Grade OA.2
Question: What is a quotient?
Answer: The answer to a division problem.
Third Grade
OA.2
quotient
21 ÷ 3= 7
quotient
Gesture: Point index fingers, one on chin, the other a little lower. Then point them in a forward direction away from chin. (Sign language for “answer”.) With palms together, “slice” hands downward. (division)

35. rounding Third Grade NBT.A.1 Question: What is rounding?
Answer: To give the closest value of a number using multiples of 10.
Third Grade
NBT.A.1
rounding
Gesture: Hold up thumb and index finger as if showing something small. (closest value) Move finger across front of body as if it was hopping. (multiples) Hold up 10 fingers.

36. subtraction 5 – 2 = 3 Third Grade NBT.A.2
Question: What is subtraction?
Answer: Subtraction is taking away.
Third Grade
NBT.A.2
subtraction
5 – 2 = 3
Gesture: Hold up arm so it is horizontal. (subtraction) Hold up 2 fingers on one hand and 3 on the other. Move one hand backward to show taking away.

37. volume Third Grade MD.A.2 Question: What is volume?
Answer: A measure for liquids.
Third Grade
MD.A.2
volume
Gesture: Make a looping motion with one hand (like an wave of water).