Classroom · Skip counting · 2nd and 3rd grade

Skip counting by 3s worksheets

A free five-page pack for 2nd and 3rd grade: learn to count by 3s, with a worked example, practice pages, word problems and an answer key.

Download the skip counting by 3s pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

54 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice skip counting by 3s, step by step.
0:04 Start at 0, and jump 3 each time: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. Counting by 3s gives the answers to the 3 times table.
0:14 Count by 3s, and fill in the missing numbers: 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33.
0:23 On the hundreds chart, color every number you say: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and keep going. They make slanting lines.
0:33 Count the apples by 3s: 3, 6, 9. That's 9 apples.
0:38 Word problems. There are 8 bags. Each bag has 3 apples. How many apples are there? The answer is 24 apples.
0:47 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How to do it

Start at 0 and jump 3 each time: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. Counting by 3s gives the answers to the 3 times table.

Teaching tip

Clap on every third number while counting by ones: one, two, CLAP. Then say only the clapped numbers.

Try some

12, 15, 18, 21, ...Tap to check24, 27, 30
0, 3, 6, 9, ...Tap to check12, 15, 18
12, 15, 18, 21, ...Tap to check24, 27, 30
18, 21, 24, 27, ...Tap to check30, 33, 36
18, 21, 24, 27, ...Tap to check30, 33, 36
15, 18, 21, 24, ...Tap to check27, 30, 33

Word problems

There are 8 bags. Each bag has 3 apples. How many apples are there?Show answer

24 apples (count by 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24)

Hana counts by 3s: 18, 21, 24. What are the next three numbers?Show answer

27, 30, 33

A kangaroo jumps 3 spaces each hop. It starts at 0. Where is it after 7 hops?Show answer

Adam counted by 3s and said 12, 15, 21. Which number is wrong, and what should it be?Show answer

21 should be 18

What the worksheets look like

Skip counting by 3s worksheet: learn it with a number line, then a first practice — Page 1: learn it with a number line, then a first practice

Skip counting by 3s worksheet: color the pattern on a hundreds chart, or sort the numbers — Page 2: color the pattern on a hundreds chart, or sort the numbers

Skip counting chart

Counting by 2s to 10s, all on one page, to keep beside the worksheets.

Template(1 page, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Common questions

How do you teach skip counting by 3s?

Start at 0 and jump 3 each time: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. Counting by 3s gives the answers to the 3 times table. Clap on every third number while counting by ones: one, two, CLAP. Then say only the clapped numbers.

What grade learns skip counting by 3s?

Usually 2nd and 3rd grade. In the Common Core it is part of 3.OA.C.7.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 5 has every answer from the pack and a short teaching tip.