Grade 3 Math: Geometry and Transformations unit
Students handle solids, count their faces, edges and vertices, sort and build them, and find the solids inside a build. They check whether shapes and solids are congruent, and then give and follow directions on a map and a grid with distances, compass words, and half-turns and quarter-turns.
What's included
- Unit overviewBig ideas, expectations by code, learning goals and success criteria
- Day-by-day calendar14 days planned, including catch-up and review days
- 11 three-part lessonsMinds On, Action and Consolidation, with timings, questions to ask and common mistakes
- Lesson slidesA ready-to-project deck for every lesson: goals, worked examples, discussion questions and exit tickets, with your lesson steps in the speaker notes
- Student worksheets with answer keys86 questions in all, every numeric answer checked by software
- Diagnostic and quick checksA Day 1 diagnostic and 3 quick checks to adjust your teaching
- Performance task and rubric“Build it and give directions”, with a rubric across all four achievement chart categories
- Unit test and answer key24 marks, sorted by achievement chart category
- AccommodationsSupports for students with IEPs, English language learners, and extensions
Look inside
These are real pages from the unit.
Day-by-day calendar
| Day | Lesson or assessment | Expectations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic and unit launch | |
| 2 | Lesson 1: Meet the solids | E1.1 |
| 3 | Lesson 2: Faces of solids | E1.1 |
| 4 | Lesson 3: Edges and vertices | E1.1 |
| 5 | Lesson 4: Sort solids by their parts | E1.1 |
| 6 | Lesson 5: Build solids | E1.1 |
| 7 | Lesson 6: Structures made of solids | E1.2 |
| 8 | Lesson 7: Same shape, same size | E1.3 |
| 9 | Lesson 8: Matching faces and solids | E1.3 |
| 10 | Lesson 9: Directions on a map | E1.4 |
| 11 | Lesson 10: Half-turns and quarter-turns | E1.4 |
| 12 | Lesson 11: Multi-step directions | E1.4 |
| 13 | Performance task | E1.1, E1.2, E1.3, E1.4 |
| 14 | Unit test (read aloud) | E1.1, E1.2, E1.3, E1.4 |
Lesson 1: Meet the solids
Learning goal: We are learning to name solid shapes by how they look.
Success criteria:
- I can name a cube, a cone and a sphere.
- I can name a cylinder and a pyramid.
Minds On (8 min)
- Pass a ball, a box and a can around. Ask: "How are these different?"
- Students share what they feel and see.
Action (22 min)
- Name each solid and hold it up: cube, rectangular prism, pyramid, cylinder, cone, sphere.
- Students find each solid in the room and sort their finds.
- Complete the worksheet.
Consolidation (10 min)
- Play "I spy a solid" with the class.
- Exit: "What is the name of a ball shape?"
Name the solid
Look at the solids. Circle the one asked for.
- Circle the cube.
- Circle the sphere.
- Circle the cone.
- Circle the cylinder.
- Circle the rectangular prism, a box shape.
Answer keys with worked steps are in the Teacher Guide.
Performance task: Build it and give directions
Build a structure. Then write directions for a friend to find the treasure.
| Category | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge and Understanding | Level 1: needs a lot of help. | Level 2: names some solids or gives a plan with help. | Level 3: names solids with their parts and gives a clear plan with a turn. | Level 4: explains why the solids fit and gives a plan with several turns. |
| Thinking | Level 1: needs a lot of help. | Level 2: names some solids or gives a plan with help. | Level 3: names solids with their parts and gives a clear plan with a turn. | Level 4: explains why the solids fit and gives a plan with several turns. |
| Communication | Level 1: needs a lot of help. | Level 2: names some solids or gives a plan with help. | Level 3: names solids with their parts and gives a clear plan with a turn. | Level 4: explains why the solids fit and gives a plan with several turns. |
| Application | Level 1: needs a lot of help. | Level 2: names some solids or gives a plan with help. | Level 3: names solids with their parts and gives a clear plan with a turn. | Level 4: explains why the solids fit and gives a plan with several turns. |
Lessons in this unit
- Meet the solidsLearning to name solid shapes by how they look.E1.1
- Faces of solidsLearning to count and name the flat faces on a solid.E1.1
- Edges and verticesLearning to find edges and vertices (corners) on solids.E1.1
- Sort solids by their partsLearning to sort solids by faces, edges and vertices.E1.1
- Build solidsLearning to build solids from their edges and vertices.E1.1
- Structures made of solidsLearning to put solids together and find the solids inside a structure.E1.2
- Same shape, same sizeWe are learning that congruent shapes match in shape and size.E1.3
- Matching faces and solidsLearning to find matching faces and matching solids.E1.3
- Directions on a mapLearning to use north, south, east and west and count squares.E1.4
- Half-turns and quarter-turnsLearning to describe a half-turn and a quarter-turn.E1.4
- Multi-step directionsLearning to follow and give steps with turns and distances.E1.4
Ontario curriculum expectations covered
- E1.1
- Sort, build and name cubes, prisms, pyramids, cylinders and cones by looking at their faces, edges, vertices and angles.
- E1.2
- Put solids together into structures, take structures apart in the mind and by hand, and name the flat shapes and solids inside.
- E1.3
- Match lengths, angles and faces of solids by hand or in the mind, and decide when two solids are congruent.
- E1.4
- Give and follow directions with several steps, using distances, half-turns and quarter-turns.
Questions about this unit
How long is this unit?
14 school days: 11 lessons plus a diagnostic, a catch-up day, a two-day performance task, a review day and the unit test.
Which expectations does it cover?
E1.1, E1.2, E1.3, E1.4 from Mathematics (2020), Strand E, overall expectation E1.
What format are the files?
Each unit comes as a Teacher Guide and Student Pages, both as editable Word files and print-ready PDFs, plus a PowerPoint deck of lesson slides. The Word files open in Google Docs and the slides open in Google Slides, so you can change anything.
Can I share it with my colleagues?
A single licence is for one teacher's classes. For a grade team, the team licence covers up to 5 teachers at one school for $49.99.
What if it isn't right for my class?
Email help@unitplans.ca within 7 days of buying for a full refund.