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Math Word Detectives!

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Lesson Plan

Math Word Detectives! Lesson Plan

Students will identify common mathematical keywords for addition and subtraction and use them to set up simple word problems.

Learning these 'clue words' helps students understand math stories and solve problems. This skill builds confidence in tackling word problems.

Audience

2nd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive slides, guided practice, and a quick check for understanding.

Materials

Smartboard or Projector, Math Word Detectives! Slide Deck, What's the Clue? Script, Clue Word Practice Worksheet, Clue Word Practice Answer Key, Clue Word Warm-Up, and Clue Word Cool-Down

Prep

Preparation Checklist

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Clue Word Brainstorm

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Clue Word Warm-Up to students.
    * Ask students to think about words that mean "add" or "take away" in math.
    * Briefly discuss a few ideas as a class to get their brains warmed up.

Step 2

Introducing Math Clue Words

10 minutes

  • Present the Math Word Detectives! Slide Deck.
    * Go through each slide, focusing on simple addition and subtraction clue words.
    * Encourage students to share when they might have heard these words in everyday stories or math problems.
    * Deliver the What's the Clue? Script to emphasize reading the whole problem.

Step 3

Guided Practice: Worksheet Time!

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Clue Word Practice Worksheet.
    * Work through the first few problems together, identifying the clue words and circling the correct operation.
    * Have students try a few more independently or with a partner.
    * Circulate to offer help.
    * Review answers using the Clue Word Practice Answer Key and discuss as a class.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Show What You Know!

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Clue Word Cool-Down to students.
    * Students will answer a simple question about a clue word or why they are helpful.
    * Collect cool-downs to see who became a super math detective today!
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Slide Deck

Math Word Detectives!

Finding Clue Words in Math Stories

Let's become super math detectives!

Welcome our new Math Word Detectives! Introduce the idea that words can be clues in math.

What are Math Clue Words?

They are special words that give us hints!

  • Hidden messages in math stories
  • Tell us if we need to ADD or SUBTRACT
  • Help us solve problems!

Why are they important? They help us crack the case!

Ask students what a 'clue' is. Explain that in math, some words are like clues that tell us what to do.

Clue Words for Adding (+)

  • And
  • In all
  • Altogether
  • Plus
  • More
  • Total

Example: "2 cookies and 3 cookies makes 5 cookies." (2 + 3)

Discuss each addition clue word. Give a simple example for each. Ask students to shout out any other 'adding words' they know.

Clue Words for Taking Away (-)

  • Left
  • Fewer
  • Minus
  • Take away
  • How many more?
  • Difference

Example: "You had 5 toys, and 2 broke. How many are left?" (5 - 2)

Discuss each subtraction clue word. Give a simple example. Ask students for other 'taking away words' they know.

Let's Practice Our Clues!

What math clue do these words tell us?

  1. Altogether
  2. Left
  3. More
  4. Difference

(Teacher will guide discussion and provide answers.)

Quick practice. Ask students to identify the clue word and say if it means add or subtract. Guide them if they need help.

Remember: Read the Whole Story!

  • Read the whole math problem carefully.
  • Don't just pick one word! Look for all the clues.
  • Think about what is happening in the story.

You are amazing math detectives!

Remind students that sometimes a word can be tricky. They need to read the whole story to be sure!

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Script

What's the Clue? Script

(Teacher should deliver this script after presenting the "Remember: Read the Whole Story!" slide in the Math Word Detectives! Slide Deck)

"Alright, super math detectives! We've found so many awesome clue words for adding and taking away. You're doing a fantastic job!

But here's a secret detective tip: Sometimes, a word can be a little bit tricky. It might try to fool you!

Think about the word 'run'. If I say, 'I like to run in the park,' you know I mean moving my legs fast. But if I say, 'The water will run down the drain,' it means the water is flowing! The word 'run' is the same, but the rest of the sentence tells us what it really means.

Math words can be like that too! Most of the time, our clue words tell us exactly what to do. But sometimes, we have to read the whole math story to be sure.

Let's try one:

  • If I say, 'I have 5 red apples and 3 green apples. How many apples do I have in all?' The words 'and' and 'in all' are big clues that we need to add!

  • But what if I say, 'I went to the store, and then I went home.' Does 'then' mean add or take away? No! It just tells us what happened next in the story. It's not a math clue word.

See? We have to be smart detectives! So, when you read a math problem, remember these three things:

  1. Read the WHOLE math story: Don't just look for one word. Read every single word.
  2. Think about what's HAPPENING: Are things joining together? Are things going away? What's the picture in your head?
  3. Use YOUR DETECTIVE BRAIN: Your brain is the best tool! Use the clue words as hints, but think about the whole story to solve the case!

Any questions about being a super math detective and reading the whole story? Keep those detective brains working!"

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Warm Up

Clue Word Challenge: What Do They Mean?

Instructions: Think about math stories. For each math action below, write down as many clue words as you can that tell you to use that action.

1. Adding (+)







2. Taking Away (-)







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Worksheet

Clue Word Practice Worksheet

Instructions: For each problem, circle the math clue word(s). Then, circle if you need to ADD or SUBTRACT. Finally, write the math problem (but you don't have to solve it yet!).

Part 1: Find the Clues and Actions

  1. There are 5 red apples and 3 green apples. How many apples are there in all?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



  2. You had 10 cookies. You ate 4 of them. How many cookies are left?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



  3. Sarah found 7 seashells. Then she found 2 more. How many seashells does Sarah have now?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



  4. There were 9 birds in a tree. 3 birds flew away. How many birds are in the tree now?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



  5. What is the total number of stickers if you have 6 big stickers and 4 small stickers?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



  6. How many fewer blue cars are there if there are 8 red cars and 5 blue cars?

    • Clue Word(s): ____________________
    • Action: ADD / SUBTRACT (circle one)
    • Math Problem: ____________________



Part 2: Write the Math Problem

Read the math story. Write the math problem you need to solve.

  1. Tom has 4 balloons. His friend gives him 3 more. How many balloons does Tom have altogether?






  2. A bus had 12 kids. At the next stop, 5 kids got off. How many kids are on the bus now?






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Answer Key

Clue Word Practice Answer Key

Instructions: Review the answers below to check your work and understand the correct actions.

Part 1: Find the Clues and Actions

  1. There are 5 red apples and 3 green apples. How many apples are there in all?

    • Clue Word(s): and, in all
    • Action: ADD
    • Math Problem: 5 + 3



  2. You had 10 cookies. You ate 4 of them. How many cookies are left?

    • Clue Word(s): left
    • Action: SUBTRACT
    • Math Problem: 10 - 4



  3. Sarah found 7 seashells. Then she found 2 more. How many seashells does Sarah have now?

    • Clue Word(s): more
    • Action: ADD
    • Math Problem: 7 + 2



  4. There were 9 birds in a tree. 3 birds flew away. How many birds are in the tree now?

    • Clue Word(s): away
    • Action: SUBTRACT
    • Math Problem: 9 - 3



  5. What is the total number of stickers if you have 6 big stickers and 4 small stickers?

    • Clue Word(s): total
    • Action: ADD
    • Math Problem: 6 + 4



  6. How many fewer blue cars are there if there are 8 red cars and 5 blue cars?

    • Clue Word(s): fewer
    • Action: SUBTRACT
    • Math Problem: 8 - 5



Part 2: Write the Math Problem

Read the math story. Write the math problem you need to solve.

  1. Tom has 4 balloons. His friend gives him 3 more. How many balloons does Tom have altogether?

    • Math Problem: 4 + 3 = 7 balloons






  2. A bus had 12 kids. At the next stop, 5 kids got off. How many kids are on the bus now?

    • Math Problem: 12 - 5 = 7 kids






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Cool Down

Clue Word Check-Out!

Instructions: Answer the following questions to show what you learned today.

  1. Name one new math clue word you learned today and tell if it means ADD or TAKE AWAY.






  2. Why is it helpful to look for clue words in a math story?











  3. Circle the clue word(s) in this problem: "If you have 6 toys and get 2 more, how many toys do you have in all?"

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