What’s Different about the New 3rd Grade Florida BEST Math Standards?
Have you asked yourself recently what’s the difference between the old Florida standards (MAFS but mostly common core) and the new 3rd grade Florida BEST math standards?
I was wondering the same thing so I did some research on the fldoe.org website and I found three major differences. The differences center around number sense and operations, algebraic reasoning, and geometric reasoning. These three domains have brand new standards for 3rd grade math.
3rd Grade Florida BEST Standards Number Sense and Operations
The largest difference in the third grade Florida BEST Standards is the number sense and operations domain. There are several new standards added.
An improvement for sure!
As a former fifth grade teacher, I noticed third grade standards, previously dropped the ball with preparing students for the place value expectations needed in fourth and fifth grade.
3 New Number Sense and Operations Standards
The number sense and operations domain has six major changes from the previous standards.
- Now, in third grade, students read and write numbers from 0 to 10,000 using standard form, expanded form, and word form. (MA.3.NSO.1.1)
- Students compose and decompose four-digit numbers in multiple ways using thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. (MA.3.NSO.1.2)
- Students plot, order, and compare whole numbers up to 10,000. (MA.3.NSO.1.3)
The other standards in the the NSO domain changed slightly to increase difficulty. Students are now asked to round whole numbers from 0 to 1000. (MA.3.NSO.1.4)
The range to explore multiplication is now from 0 to 144. Multiplication facts now range from 0 to 12. (MA.3.NSO.2.2 and MA.3.NSO.2.4)
Students are also asked to multiply a one-digit whole number by a multiple of 10 up to 90 or a multiple of 100 up to 900 which is new to third grade. (MA.3.NSO.2.3)
Number Sense and Operations vs. Number & Operations in Base Ten
| Florida BEST Standards | MAFS |
| MA.3.NSO.1.1 Read and write numbers from 0 to 10,000 using standard form, expanded form and word form. | N/A |
| MA.3.NSO.1.2 Compose and decompose four-digit numbers in multiple ways using thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. Demonstrate each composition or decomposition using objects, drawings and expressions or equations. | N/A |
| MA.3.NSO.1.3 Plot, order and compare whole numbers up to 10,000. | N/A |
| MA.3.NSO.1.4 Round whole numbers from 0 to 1,000 to the nearest 10 or 100. | MAFS.3.NBT.1.1 Use place value understanding to round whole numbers to the nearest 10 or 100. |
| MA.3.NSO.2.1 Add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers including using a standard algorithm with procedural fluency. | MAFS.3.NBT.1.2 Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. |
| MA.3.NSO.2.2 Explore multiplication of two whole numbers with products from 0 to 144, and related division facts. | MAFS.3.OA.3.7 Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers. |
| MA.3.NSO.2.3 Multiply a one-digit whole number by a multiple of 10, up to 90, or a multiple of 100, up to 900, with procedural reliability. | MAFS.3.NBT.1.3 Multiply one-digit whole numbers by multiples of 10 in the range 10–90 (e.g.,9 × 80, 5 × 60) using strategies based on place value and properties of operations. |
| MA.3.NSO.2.4 Multiply two whole numbers from 0 to 12 and divide using related facts with procedural reliability. | MAFS.3.OA.1.4 Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 × ? = 48, 5 = []÷ 3, 6 × 6 = ?. |
Download Your Free 3rd Grade Florida BEST Place Value Lesson
If you’re looking for resources to help teach and review these new standards with your students, then check out the 3rd grade Florida BEST math standards journal pages from my TPT shop
You can download a FREE 3rd grade FL BEST place value math journal lesson from start to finish here.
There is also a BUNDLE option available for you to check out for the best deal on several lessons.
Algebraic Reasoning Florida BEST Math Standards
The algebraic reasoning domain has four major changes from the previous standards.
One new change to the algebraic reasoning domain is students are to determine and explain whether a whole number from 0 to 1000 is even or odd. (MA.3.AR.3.1) This is a great addition that will help students understand patterns.
Previously students were asked to identify the patterns within a set of numbers, but now students are asked to create and extend numerical patterns. (MA.3.AR.3.3)
Students are taught to determine and explain whether an equation involving multiplication is true or false. (MA.3.AR.2.2)
New to third grade is also determining whether a whole number from 1 to 144 is a multiple of a given one-digit number. (MA.3.AR.3.2)
Algebraic Reasoning vs. Operations & Algebraic Thinking
| Florida Best Standards | MAFS |
| MA.3.AR.1.1 Apply the distributive property to multiply a one-digit number and two-digit number. Apply properties of multiplication to find a product of one-digit whole numbers. | MAFS.3.OA.2.5 Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide. |
| MA.3.AR.1.2 Solve one- and two-step real-world problems involving any of four operations with whole numbers. | MAFS.3.OA.1.3 Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities. MAFS.3.OA.4.8 Solve two-step word problems using the four operations |
| MA.3.AR.2.1 Restate a division problem as a missing factor problem using the relationship between multiplication and division. | MAFS.3.OA.2.6 Understand division as an unknown-factor problem |
| MA.3.AR.2.2 Determine and explain whether an equation involving multiplication or division is true or false. | N/A |
| MA.3.AR.2.3 Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation, relating three whole numbers, with the unknown in any position. | MAFS.3.OA.1.4 Determine the unknown whole number in a multiplication or division equation relating three whole numbers |
| MA.3.AR.3.1 Determine and explain whether a whole number from 1 to 1,000 is even or odd. | N/A |
| MA.3.AR.3.2 Determine whether a whole number from 1 to 144 is a multiple of a given one digit number. | N/A |
Geometric Reasoning Florida BEST Math Standards
The geometric reasoning domain has two major changes from the previous standards.
Students are expected to describe and draw points, lines, line segments, rays, intersecting lines, perpendicular lines, and parallel lines. They are asked to identify these in two dimensional figures. (MA.3.GR.1.1)
New to third grade is drawing lines of symmetry in two-dimensional figures and identifying line-symmetric two-dimensional figures. (MA.3.GR.1.3)
Geometric Reasoning vs. Geometry
| Florida BEST Standards | MAFS |
| MA.3.GR.1.1 Describe and draw points, lines, line segments, rays, intersecting lines, perpendicular lines and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures. | N/A |
| MA.3.GR.1.2 Identify and draw quadrilaterals based on their defining attributes. Quadrilaterals include parallelograms, rhombi, rectangles, squares and trapezoids. | MAFS.3.G.1.1 Understand that shapes in different categories (e.g., rhombuses, rectangles, and others) may share attributes (e.g., having four sides), and that the shared attributes can define a larger category (e.g., quadrilaterals). Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories. |
| MA.3.GR.1.3 Draw line(s) of symmetry in a two-dimensional figure and identify line symmetric two-dimensional figures. | N/A |
| MA.3.GR.2.1 Explore area as an attribute of a two-dimensional figure by covering the figure with unit squares without gaps or overlaps. Find areas of rectangles by counting unit squares. | MAFS.3.MD.3.5 Recognize area as an attribute of plane figures and understand concepts of area measurement. a. A square with side length 1 unit, called “a unit square,” is said to have “one square unit” of area and can be used to measure area. b. A plane figure which can be covered without gaps or overlaps by n unit squares is said to have an of n square units. MAFS.3.MD.3.6 Measure areas by counting unit squares (square cm, square m, square in, square ft, and improvised units). |
| MA.3.GR.2.2 Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths using a visual model and a multiplication formula | MAFS.3.MD.3.7 Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition. a. Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths by tiling it, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying the side lengths. |
| MA.3.GR.2.3 Solve mathematical and real-world problems involving the perimeter and area of rectangles with whole-number side lengths using a visual model and a formula | MAFS.3.MD.3.7 Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition. b. Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole-number side lengths in the context of solving real world and mathematical problems and represent whole-number products as rectangular areas in mathematical reasoning. MAFS.3.MD.4.8 Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters. |
| MA.3.GR.2.4 Solve mathematical and real-world problems involving the perimeter and area of composite figures composed of non-overlapping rectangles with whole number side lengths. | MAFS.3.MD.3.7 Relate area to the operations of multiplication and addition. b. Multiply side lengths to find areas of rectangles with whole-number side lengths in the context of solving real world and mathematical problems and represent whole-number products as rectangular areas in mathematical reasoning. d. Recognize area as additive. Find areas of rectilinear figures by decomposing them into non-overlapping rectangles and adding the areas of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real world problems |
| N/A | MAFS.3.G.1.2 Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape. |
Takeaways for 3rd Grade Florida BEST Math Standards
The third grade Florida BEST math standards are not as different as I originally thought.
They have taken a few skills that were previously expected for fourth grade students and moved it down to our third grade level to help fill any gaps and aid vertical alignment of the standards. Hopefully, this makes the transition from 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th easier for students and teachers.
I really appreciate the detail and clarification provided within each benchmark. The website has awesome teaching notes, examples, and common misconceptions. It is overwhelming looking at all of information provided.
I hope this blog post encourages you to focus on the small changes with the standards so the transition is less daunting.
Download Your Free 3rd Grade Florida BEST Data Tracking Sheets
I’ve created a free downloadable “I Can” printable for you to use in your classroom.
The data sheets are great for data notebooks with students to date and score standards throughout the year. Your teacher data notebook is another place to use the data sheets to monitor your classes’ progress towards mastery of the 3rd grade Florida BEST math standards.
Honestly, I enjoyed putting it together and seeing all of the “I Can” statements for each standard written out by domain. There we so many similarities that the transition is less overwhelming and more manageable than I expected.
Don’t forget to download your free copy today!
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