Montana Math MT.3.OA.3

Math3rd GradeOperations and Algebraic Thinking

The Standard

Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve problems in context in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities.

2026 Montana Mathematics Content Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students solve problems about equal groups, arrays, and measured amounts using multiplication or division. They draw a model or write an equation and label what the answer means.
What Mastery Looks Like: For 4 rows of 6 tiles, a student writes 4 × 6 = 24 and labels 24 as tiles. For a 24-inch strip cut into 6-inch pieces, they write 24 ÷ 6 = 4 and label 4 as pieces.
Common Misconceptions: Students may add the numbers in a story even when it describes equal groups. They may confuse the number of rows with the number in each row. In a ribbon problem, they may find the right number but label it inches instead of pieces.
How to Assess It: Ask: “A 36-inch ribbon is cut into 6-inch pieces. How many pieces are there?” Have students draw a model or write an equation, then label their answer.

Lesson moves

Give pairs 24 counters to arrange in four equal rows, then have them write a multiplication and a division equation.
Show a 5-by-6 dot array and ask, “What do 5 × 6 and 30 ÷ 5 tell us about the dots?”
Play a matching game with cards showing dot arrays, multiplication equations, and related division equations.
Measure four 8-inch strips of tape and ask students how many inches of tape they used altogether.

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