Math problem set Grade 3 Math

Sunrise Elementary's Water Jugs: A Grade 3 Gallons-Quarts Set

A grade 3 math set where students multiply gallons into quarts and track how much water three field day jugs held, used, and had left over.

Grade: Grade 3
Subject: Math
Material: Math problem set
Time: 40 min
Prep: No prep
Materials: calculator (optional)

Standards

3.OA.A.1 Common Core Math

Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 x 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 x 7.

How this material aligns: Problems 1 through 3 ask students to interpret each jug's gallon-to-quart conversion as equal groups of 4 quarts, the array interpretation of a product this standard requires.

All materials for 3.OA.A.1 →

3.OA.D.8 Common Core Math

Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

How this material aligns: Problems 7 and 8 combine subtraction and division into a single two-step word problem about leftover water, exactly the reasoning this standard specifies.

All materials for 3.OA.D.8 →

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This material is in the public domain (CC0) and may be copied, edited, and shared freely, without attribution. Updated 2026-07-16.

Objectives

Students will interpret a gallon-to-quart conversion as equal groups using multiplication.
Students will add and subtract gallon totals to find how much water was used and left over.
Students will divide a leftover amount evenly to solve a two-step word problem.

Vocabulary

Key words: gallon, quart, equal groups, leftover

Teacher overview

Sunrise Elementary, a fictional school used for this problem set, sets up three large water jugs at a spigot to keep students hydrated during an outdoor field day. Jug A holds 5 gallons when full, Jug B holds 6 gallons, and Jug C holds 3 gallons. This set uses one basic fact throughout: 1 gallon equals 4 quarts. A common misconception in this math is dividing by 4 instead of multiplying when converting gallons to quarts; since a quart is a smaller unit than a gallon, the number of quarts for the same amount of water should always be larger than the number of gallons, not smaller, and students should check their answers against that rule.

Sunrise Elementary's Water Jugs: A Grade 3 Gallons-Quarts Set — Grade 3 Math

Name: ____________________________ Date: ______________

Problems

Use this fact for every problem: 1 gallon equals 4 quarts. Jug A holds 5 gallons when full. Jug B holds 6 gallons. Jug C holds 3 gallons.

Jug A holds 5 gallons. Write a multiplication fact for quarts. Then solve it.
Jug B holds 6 gallons. How many quarts is that?
Jug C holds 3 gallons. How many quarts is that?
Add all three jugs. What is the total in gallons?
Add your answers from problems 1 through 3. What is the total in quarts?
Field day ends. Jug A has 2 gallons left. Jug B has 1 gallon left. Jug C is empty. Add the leftover gallons.
Use your answers from problems 4 and 6. How many gallons were used?
Challenge. Change the leftover gallons from problem 6 into quarts. Then split them evenly between 2 coaches. How many quarts does each coach get? Is anything left over?

From Water for Schools (waterforschools.org). This material is in the public domain (CC0) and may be copied, edited, and shared freely.

Answer Key

Answer: 20 quarts. 5 gallons × 4 quarts/gallon = 20 quarts.
Answer: 24 quarts. 6 × 4 = 24 quarts.
Answer: 12 quarts. 3 × 4 = 12 quarts.
Answer: 14 gallons. 5 + 6 + 3 = 14 gallons.
Answer: 56 quarts. 20 + 24 + 12 = 56 quarts. Check: 14 gallons × 4 quarts/gallon = 56 quarts, which matches.
Answer: 3 gallons. 2 + 1 + 0 = 3 gallons.
Answer: 11 gallons. 14 gallons (problem 4) − 3 gallons (problem 6) = 11 gallons.
Answer: 6 quarts, no remainder. First convert: 3 gallons × 4 quarts/gallon = 12 quarts. Then divide: 12 quarts ÷ 2 coaches = 6 quarts each, with nothing left over.

Differentiation

Support (below grade level)

Give students a printed conversion card that reads "gallons × 4 = quarts" to reference for every problem, and provide problem 1 fully solved as a worked model before they attempt problems 2 and 3 on their own.

Extension (above grade level)

Ask students to figure out how many pint-size cups (1 quart = 2 pints) the field day team could fill from the total 56 quarts found in problem 5, and to explain the two-step conversion they used to get from gallons all the way to pints.

ELL supports

Provide a labeled picture of a gallon jug divided into 4 equal quart sections, so students can see the relationship before working the problems. Allow students to show their multiplication as repeated addition (4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 20) if that strategy is more familiar to them than a single multiplication fact.

Extensions

Have students measure how many quart-size containers your own classroom's water cooler or a labeled gallon jug actually holds, then compare that hands-on count to the multiplication fact used throughout this problem set.