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Math Detective Playbook

Kelise Antonio

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Math Detective Playbook

Students will identify and apply various problem-solving strategies to solve mathematical word problems.

Learning different strategies helps students break down complex problems, develop critical thinking skills, and approach math challenges with greater confidence and flexibility.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, modeling, guided practice.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Slide Deck: Math Detective Playbook, Warm Up: Math Mind Opener, Worksheet: Strategy Spotlight, Answer Key: Strategy Spotlight, and Cool Down: My Strategy Superpower

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Slide Deck: Math Detective Playbook and practice the script.
    - Print copies of the Worksheet: Strategy Spotlight (one per student).
    - Print copies of the Cool Down: My Strategy Superpower (one per student).
    - Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready.
    - Review the Answer Key: Strategy Spotlight for grading and discussion.

Step 1

Warm Up: Math Mind Opener

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Warm Up: Math Mind Opener to students.
    2. Instruct students to complete the warm-up independently.
    3. After 3 minutes, lead a brief discussion on their initial thoughts about solving math problems.

Step 2

Introduction: Becoming Math Detectives

5 minutes

  1. Display Slide 1: Math Detective Playbook.
    2. Introduce the concept of being a "math detective" and using strategies as tools.
    3. Explain that today, students will learn different ways to solve math problems.
    4. Display Slide 2: Why Strategies Matter and briefly discuss the benefits.

Step 3

Exploring Strategies (Modeling & Discussion)

10 minutes

  1. Display Slide 3: Strategy 1: Draw a Picture.
    2. Present the example problem and model how to solve it by drawing a picture.
    3. Display Slide 4: Strategy 2: Look for a Pattern.
    4. Present the example problem and model how to solve it by looking for a pattern.
    5. Display Slide 5: Strategy 3: Make a List/Table.
    6. Present the example problem and model how to solve it by making a list or table.
    7. Encourage brief student input/questions after each strategy.

Step 4

Guided Practice: Strategy Spotlight

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Worksheet: Strategy Spotlight.
    2. Display Slide 6: Your Turn! Strategy Spotlight.
    3. Instruct students to work on the problems, encouraging them to try different strategies discussed.
    4. Circulate and provide support. (Note: Due to time, students may not finish all problems.)

Step 5

Share & Reflect

3 minutes

  1. Bring the class back together.
    2. Ask a few students to share which strategy they used for one of the problems on the Worksheet: Strategy Spotlight and why.
    3. Briefly review key takeaways.

Step 6

Cool Down: My Strategy Superpower

2 minutes

  1. Distribute the Cool Down: My Strategy Superpower.
    2. Instruct students to quickly write down their favorite strategy and why it helps them.
    3. Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Math Detective Playbook

Unlocking Problem-Solving Secrets!

Get ready to explore cool ways to solve math problems!

Welcome students and introduce the exciting idea of becoming a 'Math Detective' today! Emphasize that they'll learn special tricks to solve tricky math problems.

Why Strategies Matter

Your Math Superpowers!

  • Makes tricky problems easier
  • Helps you think clearly
  • Gives you confidence!

Explain why having strategies is like having a superpower. It helps them when problems seem hard, makes them think clearly, and gives them confidence.

Strategy 1: Draw a Picture

When words get tricky, drawings can help!

Example Problem: There are 5 birds on a branch. 3 more birds join them. How many birds are on the branch now?

Draw 5 birds, then draw 3 more.

Introduce the 'Draw a Picture' strategy. Model solving the example problem step-by-step by actually drawing the scenario. Talk through your drawing process.

Strategy 2: Look for a Pattern

Find the hidden rule!

Example Problem: A sequence starts with 2, 4, 6... What are the next two numbers?

Think: How do you get from 2 to 4? From 4 to 6?

Introduce 'Look for a Pattern'. Model how to identify the pattern in the example. Ask students what they notice.

Strategy 3: Make a List/Table

Organize your thoughts!

Example Problem: Sarah has red, blue, and green shirts, and black and white pants. How many different outfits can she make?

List all the shirt and pant combinations.

Introduce 'Make a List/Table'. Model setting up a simple table or list to organize information for the example problem. Explain how it helps keep track.

Your Turn! Strategy Spotlight

Time to be a Math Detective!

  • Use your new strategies to solve the problems.
  • Choose the best strategy for each problem.
  • Don't be afraid to try different approaches!

Transition to independent work. Explain that the worksheet has problems where they can try out the strategies they just learned. Encourage them to choose the strategy that makes the most sense for each problem.

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Warm Up

Math Mind Opener

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about how you usually solve math problems. What do you do when a problem seems difficult?

  1. When I see a math problem, the first thing I usually do is:



  2. If a math problem is really hard, I sometimes:



  3. One thing I wish I was better at when solving math problems is:



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lenny

Worksheet

Strategy Spotlight: Your Math Detective Challenge

Instructions: Read each problem carefully. Try to use one of the strategies we discussed (Draw a Picture, Look for a Pattern, Make a List/Table) to help you solve it. Show your work or explain which strategy you used.

Problem 1: Draw a Picture

Emily bought 3 bags of apples. Each bag has 4 apples. How many apples did Emily buy in total?

  • Strategy Used: ________________________
  • Show your work/drawing here:











  • Answer: ________________________

Problem 2: Look for a Pattern

The school bell rings at 8:00 AM, then 8:15 AM, then 8:30 AM. If this pattern continues, what time will the bell ring next?

  • Strategy Used: ________________________
  • Show your work/pattern here:






  • Answer: ________________________

Problem 3: Make a List/Table

David has a choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. He can choose sprinkles, fudge, or whipped cream as toppings. How many different single-scoop ice cream combinations can David make?

  • Strategy Used: ________________________
  • Show your work/list here:











  • Answer: ________________________

Challenge Problem (Optional):

There are some chickens and pigs in a barn. Together, they have 7 heads and 20 legs. How many chickens and how many pigs are there?

  • Strategy Used: ________________________
  • Show your work here:












  • Answer: ________________________
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lenny

Answer Key

Strategy Spotlight Answer Key

Problem 1: Emily bought 3 bags of apples. Each bag has 4 apples. How many apples did Emily buy in total?

  • Strategy Used: Draw a Picture
  • Thought Process: The problem describes groups of items. Drawing circles for bags and dots for apples inside each bag helps visualize the total. I drew 3 circles, and put 4 dots in each. Then, I counted all the dots.
    • (Draw a bag with 4 apples) (Draw a bag with 4 apples) (Draw a bag with 4 apples)
    • 4 + 4 + 4 = 12
  • Answer: Emily bought 12 apples in total.

Problem 2: The school bell rings at 8:00 AM, then 8:15 AM, then 8:30 AM. If this pattern continues, what time will the bell ring next?

  • Strategy Used: Look for a Pattern
  • Thought Process: I looked at the times given: 8:00, 8:15, 8:30. I noticed that 15 minutes were added each time (8:00 + 15 min = 8:15; 8:15 + 15 min = 8:30). So, to find the next time, I need to add 15 minutes to 8:30.
    • 8:00 (+15 min) -> 8:15 (+15 min) -> 8:30 (+15 min) -> 8:45
  • Answer: The bell will ring next at 8:45 AM.

Problem 3: David has a choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. He can choose sprinkles, fudge, or whipped cream as toppings. How many different single-scoop ice cream combinations can David make?

  • Strategy Used: Make a List/Table
  • Thought Process: I need to combine each ice cream flavor with each topping. A list helps to make sure I don't miss any combinations.
    • Vanilla + Sprinkles
    • Vanilla + Fudge
    • Vanilla + Whipped Cream
    • Chocolate + Sprinkles
    • Chocolate + Fudge
    • Chocolate + Whipped Cream
  • Answer: David can make 6 different ice cream combinations.

Challenge Problem (Optional): There are some chickens and pigs in a barn. Together, they have 7 heads and 20 legs. How many chickens and how many pigs are there?

  • Strategy Used: Make a List/Table (or Guess and Check, which is a form of making a list of possibilities)
  • Thought Process: I know each animal has 1 head. Chickens have 2 legs, and pigs have 4 legs. I'll make a list of possibilities for the number of chickens and pigs that add up to 7 heads, and then count the legs.
    • Attempt 1: 7 chickens, 0 pigs = 7 heads. Legs: 72 + 04 = 14 legs (Too few legs)
    • Attempt 2: 6 chickens, 1 pig = 7 heads. Legs: 62 + 14 = 12 + 4 = 16 legs (Too few legs)
    • Attempt 3: 5 chickens, 2 pigs = 7 heads. Legs: 52 + 24 = 10 + 8 = 18 legs (Still too few)
    • Attempt 4: 4 chickens, 3 pigs = 7 heads. Legs: 42 + 34 = 8 + 12 = 20 legs (Exactly right!)
  • Answer: There are 4 chickens and 3 pigs.
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Cool Down

My Strategy Superpower

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson. Write down your favorite math problem-solving strategy and explain why you think it's helpful.

  1. My favorite problem-solving strategy is:



  2. I like this strategy because:






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