Cluster 1: Building Mathematical Community & Understanding Equal Groups

The focus of this cluster is building an effective math environment and representing situations that involve equal groups, including simple story problems with equal groups. This cluster builds on second-grade work when students worked with equal groups to build a foundation for multiplication (skip counting with 2, 5, and 10 and repeated addition). During this cluster, students are formally introduced to the meaning of multiplication and the symbolic notation for multiplication. The emphasis is on context and story problems (not merely equations); therefore, 3.OA.1 and 3.OA.2 are addressed through story problems. (See About this Cluster and the Unpacking Document below for more details on this cluster.)