Large Numbers Lesson Plan for 3rd Grade Students

Topic: Large numbers

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify, write and compare large numbers up to 10,000.

Materials

• Large number cards (1-10,000)
• Card stock or thin paper
• Pencils

Warm-up

• Ask students to name the largest number they can think of. Write the number on the board.
• Ask for volunteers to add one or two numbers to the number on the board, and write the results on the board.
• Review the rules for adding numbers (see Addition Skills lesson plan, or watch this video: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/learn-to-add-and-subtract/add-and-subtract-number-up-to-100).

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of a large number by using a large number like 1,000,000 or 1,000,000,000.
• Model how to break up the large number into groups of three digits, and how to add those groups together.
• Show how to write the resulting number using four digits.
• Have students work with a partner to come up with a large number and break it up into groups of three digits. Have them add the groups together and write the result using four digits.

Guided Practice

• Have students work with a partner to solve additional problems, such as 10,000 + 100,000 + 1,000,000.

Independent Practice

• Have students work on a project-based activity, such as designing and constructing a large number clock to show numbers up to 9,999,999.

Closure

• Review the concept of large numbers and how they are written in base-10. Ask students to share their large number clocks and discuss any challenges they faced and solutions they found.

Assessment

• Observe students during independent practice to ensure they are able to create large number clocks using base-10 numerals. Collect and review their clocks to assess their understanding of large numbers and the base-10 system.