What is a Three-Act Math Task?

A Three-Act Maths Task is a way of teaching math by telling a story or presenting a problem in three parts. First, students are hooked with an easy-to-solve problem. Next, they are presented with an additional problem requiring the previous answer. Finally, they are given a third problem using the previous answers and a new operation or task to complete using the information they’ve discovered during the last two acts.

Rigorous 3-Act Math Word Problems for Measuring Length

With those high-stakes assessments looming, our job is to prepare our students for what they might encounter. Rigorous maths standards require students to apply their skills across multiple situations and be able to show their thinking and explain the mathematical reasoning behind their answers.

This collection of Three-Act Math Tasks is designed to do just that. Modeled after multi-part questions commonly found on standardized tests, these tasks guide the student through a sequence of three questions that require them to use information acquired in previous steps and apply that information to new scenarios. Each task consists of two purely mathematical questions and a third question that requires critical thinking and an explanation of answers.

This printable set of three-act maths tasks requires students to use their knowledge of length conversions and solving word problems with multiple operations.

Download, Print, and Use!

This resource is available as an easy-to-use Google Slides or Printable PDF Resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select your preferred file format. Make your copies, pass them out to your students, and you’re ready to begin!

This resource was created by Brittany Kellogg, a teacher in Ohio and Teach Starter Collaborator.

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