NZ Curriculum · Year 3 Mathematics & Statistics · Phase 1

Year 3 Maths Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year Year 3 maths lesson plan organised around the New Zealand Curriculum – Mathematics and Statistics, Phase 1 (Years 0–3). 108 lessons across the school year from February to December, set out week by week for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, covering Number & Algebra (large numbers, unit fractions and the four operations); Measurement (metric units, time and angles); Geometry (objects, 2D representations and maps); and Statistics & Probability (statistical investigations and probability).

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39Weekly checkpoints

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Year 3 Maths learning map

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1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice

February · Number & Algebra

Year 3 Maths — February Lesson Plan

NZC Mathematics & Statistics · Phase 1

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
February 1st week (Maths)	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Recognising natural numbers beyond 10,000	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Recognising natural numbers beyond 10,000 2. Representing natural numbers using naming and writing conventions	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Recognising natural numbers beyond 10,000 2. Representing natural numbers using naming and writing conventions 3. Ordering natural numbers beyond 10,000	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Recognising natural numbers beyond 10,000 2. Representing natural numbers using naming and writing conventions 3. Ordering natural numbers beyond 10,000 Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Recognising unit fractions (halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths)
February 2nd week (Maths)	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Representing natural numbers using naming and writing conventions	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Ordering natural numbers beyond 10,000 Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Recognising unit fractions (halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Recognising unit fractions (halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths) 2. Representing unit fractions in different ways 3. Representing multiples of unit fractions	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Representing unit fractions in different ways 2. Representing multiples of unit fractions 3. Combining fractions with the same denominator to complete the whole Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Adding two- and three-digit numbers using place value
February 3rd week (Maths)	Ordering & Representing Large Numbers 1. Ordering natural numbers beyond 10,000	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Representing unit fractions in different ways 2. Representing multiples of unit fractions	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Combining fractions with the same denominator to complete the whole Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Adding two- and three-digit numbers using place value 2. Subtracting two- and three-digit numbers using place value	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Subtracting two- and three-digit numbers using place value 2. Partitioning, rearranging and regrouping numbers to assist calculations, without a calculator Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Multiplying one- and two-digit numbers 2. Dividing one- and two-digit numbers
February 4th week (Maths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Recognising unit fractions (halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Combining fractions with the same denominator to complete the whole Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Adding two- and three-digit numbers using place value	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Partitioning, rearranging and regrouping numbers to assist calculations, without a calculator Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Multiplying one- and two-digit numbers 2. Dividing one- and two-digit numbers	Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Representing problems using number sentences, diagrams and arrays 2. Using a variety of calculation strategies Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Estimating the quantity of objects in collections 2. Making estimates when solving problems

March · Number & Algebra

Year 3 Maths — March Lesson Plan

NZC Mathematics & Statistics · Phase 1

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
March 1st week (Maths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Representing unit fractions in different ways	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Subtracting two- and three-digit numbers using place value 2. Partitioning, rearranging and regrouping numbers to assist calculations, without a calculator	Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Representing problems using number sentences, diagrams and arrays 2. Using a variety of calculation strategies Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Estimating the quantity of objects in collections	Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Determining the reasonableness of calculations Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Using mathematical modelling to solve problems involving additive and multiplicative situations, including financial contexts 2. Formulating problems using number sentences 3. Choosing calculation strategies, using digital tools where appropriate
March 2nd week (Maths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Representing multiples of unit fractions	Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Multiplying one- and two-digit numbers 2. Dividing one- and two-digit numbers	Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Making estimates when solving problems 2. Determining the reasonableness of calculations Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Using mathematical modelling to solve problems involving additive and multiplicative situations, including financial contexts	Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Interpreting and communicating solutions Algorithms & Emerging Patterns 1. Following algorithms to investigate numbers 2. Creating algorithms to investigate numbers 3. Describing emerging patterns
March 3rd week (Maths)	Unit Fractions & Their Multiples 1. Combining fractions with the same denominator to complete the whole	Multiplying & Dividing One- & Two-Digit Numbers 1. Representing problems using number sentences, diagrams and arrays 2. Using a variety of calculation strategies	Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Formulating problems using number sentences 2. Choosing calculation strategies, using digital tools where appropriate 3. Interpreting and communicating solutions	Addition & Subtraction as Inverse Operations 1. Recognising and explaining the connection between addition and subtraction as inverse operations 2. Applying this to partition numbers 3. Finding unknown values in number sentences Number Facts & Mental Strategies 1. Extending knowledge of addition and subtraction facts to 20
March 4th week (Maths)	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Adding two- and three-digit numbers using place value	Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Estimating the quantity of objects in collections 2. Making estimates when solving problems	Algorithms & Emerging Patterns 1. Following algorithms to investigate numbers 2. Creating algorithms to investigate numbers 3. Describing emerging patterns	Number Facts & Mental Strategies 1. Applying this knowledge to develop efficient mental strategies for larger numbers, without a calculator 2. Recalling and demonstrating proficiency with multiplication facts for 3, 4, 5 and 10 3. Extending and applying facts to develop related division facts Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — number topics

April · Number & Algebra

Year 3 Maths — April Lesson Plan

NZC Mathematics & Statistics · Phase 1

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
April 1st week (Maths)	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Subtracting two- and three-digit numbers using place value	Estimating Quantities & Reasonableness 1. Determining the reasonableness of calculations Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Using mathematical modelling to solve problems involving additive and multiplicative situations, including financial contexts	Addition & Subtraction as Inverse Operations 1. Recognising and explaining the connection between addition and subtraction as inverse operations 2. Applying this to partition numbers 3. Finding unknown values in number sentences	Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — algebra and number facts 2. Topic test: Number & Algebra 3. Feedback session Identifying & Estimating with Metric Units 1. Identifying which metric units are used to measure everyday items
April 2nd week (Maths)	Adding & Subtracting Using Place Value 1. Partitioning, rearranging and regrouping numbers to assist calculations, without a calculator	Mathematical Modelling — Financial & Practical Problems 1. Formulating problems using number sentences 2. Choosing calculation strategies, using digital tools where appropriate	Number Facts & Mental Strategies 1. Extending knowledge of addition and subtraction facts to 20 2. Applying this knowledge to develop efficient mental strategies for larger numbers, without a calculator 3. Recalling and demonstrating proficiency with multiplication facts for 3, 4, 5 and 10	Identifying & Estimating with Metric Units 1. Using measurements of familiar items and known units to make estimates Measuring Length & Mass 1. Measuring objects using familiar metric units of length 2. Measuring objects using familiar metric units of mass Measuring Capacity & Comparing with Instruments 1. Measuring objects using familiar metric units of capacity

The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Number talk

Open with a quick number talk or counting game so your child explains their thinking out loud and builds fluency.

25 minutes

Explore and practise

Introduce the idea with materials, pictures and number lines, then work through examples together before your child tries some on their own.

10 minutes

Check for understanding

Finish with a few targeted questions or an explain-it-back task that shows what is secure and what to revisit.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 3 Maths

Concept lessons

Clear, visual lessons across the Number, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Statistics and Probability strands.

Practice sets

Short question sets matched to each week’s focus, from fluency to problem solving.

Statistical investigations

Problem, Plan, Data, Analysis, Conclusion (PPDAC) investigations using real data.

Progress notes

A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.

Free first lesson

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