Grade 3 Skills: Predicting Outcomes

Helping Your 3rd Grader Predict Outcomes

What 3rd Graders Need to Learn

Although 3rd grade curriculums can vary from school to school and state to state, it's likely that your child's education is guided by Common Core State Standards. According to these standards, predicting outcomes is one of skills that 3rd graders are expected to develop. Talk to your child's teachers to find out precisely what is being taught in class and what your child needs help with.

Predicting Outcomes in Math

The need to predict outcomes is necessary in numerous ways in the 3rd grade and math class is no exception. Math topics, such as logical reasoning, sequences, patterns and estimation, are commonly covered.

To help your child make predictions at home, have him or her determine missing numbers in a sequence. For example, ask your child to identify what comes next in the following sequence: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Your child should predict that the next number to appear will be '12' based on the pattern.

Estimation Lessons

A solid way to get your child to make predictions is by having him or her estimate how many of an item there are. Your child can estimate the number of gum balls in a machine or buttons you place in a jar. Have your child estimate the number of tiles on a bathroom or kitchen floor and then count the tiles and compare the numbers.

Additionally, ask your child to estimate prices at the grocery store. Look over several different cans of soup, for example, and have your child guess the prices for similar items. Alternatively, tell your child the price of the items that you place in your shopping cart and ask him or her to estimate the total. Compare your child's estimation to the total at the checkout.

Teaching Your Child to Round Numbers

A specific math prediction technique that your child can use is rounding numbers. This will make large figures more manageable and easier for your child to handle mentally. Teach your child that numbers ending in 1-4 are typically rounded down, while numbers ending in 5-9 are rounded up. When looking at the prices of things at the store, ask your child to round the numbers up or down.