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Multiply & Divide: Word Problems

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Lesson Plan

Multiply & Divide: Word Problems

Students will be able to represent and solve one- and two-step word problems involving multiplication and division within 100.

Understanding how to solve word problems with multiplication and division helps students apply math to real-life situations, building critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for future math concepts.

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Through guided practice and a fun activity, students will tackle word problems.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Slide Deck: Multiply & Divide Word Problems, Markers or pens, Warm-Up: Word Problem Match, Worksheet: Problem Solvers, and Answer Key: Problem Solvers

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Word Problem Match

3 minutes

  1. Distribute the Warm-Up: Word Problem Match to each student or pair.
    2. Instruct students to match the word problems with the correct operation (multiplication or division).
    3. Briefly review answers as a class, discussing reasoning. (1 minute)

Step 2

Introduction & Guided Practice

5 minutes

  1. Display Slide Deck: Multiply & Divide Word Problems slide 1: "What's the Operation?".
    2. Ask students: "When do we multiply? When do we divide?" Facilitate a quick discussion.
    3. Move to slide 2, presenting a one-step problem. Guide students to identify keywords, choose the operation, and solve.
    4. Move to slide 3, presenting a two-step problem. Model how to break it down into two smaller, manageable steps. Work through it together, emphasizing the importance of solving one step before moving to the next.

Step 3

Independent Practice: Problem Solvers

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Worksheet: Problem Solvers.
    2. Explain that students will work independently to solve the word problems, focusing on showing their work.
    3. Circulate the room, providing support and clarification as needed. Encourage students to use strategies discussed earlier.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Review

2 minutes

  1. Briefly discuss one or two problems from the Worksheet: Problem Solvers, focusing on common misconceptions or effective strategies.
    2. Collect worksheets for assessment.
    3. Conclude by reiterating the importance of reading problems carefully and identifying the correct operation(s).
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Slide Deck

What's the Operation?

Today, we're going to become super problem solvers!

We'll learn how to figure out if a word problem needs us to multiply or divide.

Let's put on our thinking caps!

Welcome students and introduce the lesson's objective: to solve word problems using multiplication and division.

One-Step Wonders

Let's look at a problem:

Sarah has 3 bags of apples. Each bag has 5 apples. How many apples does Sarah have in total?

What are the important numbers?
What is the question asking?
What operation should we use? Why?

Let's solve it together!

Review keywords for multiplication (e.g., each, total, groups of) and division (e.g., share, separate, per). Present a simple one-step problem and guide students to identify keywords, choose the correct operation, and solve it together.

Two-Step Trekkers

Now, let's try a trickier one!

There are 20 cookies. Mrs. Smith wants to put them into bags with 4 cookies in each bag. If she gives 3 bags away, how many bags does she have left?

First, what do we need to find out?
Then, what's the next step?

Let's solve it step-by-step!

Introduce a two-step problem. Model how to break the problem into two smaller, easier-to-solve steps. Emphasize solving the first step completely before moving to the second. Work through the problem with student input.

Your Turn to Solve!

Now it's time for you to be the problem solvers!

You'll get a worksheet with some word problems.

Remember to:

  • Read carefully
  • Look for keywords
  • Decide if you need to multiply, divide, or both!
  • Show your work!

Good luck, super solvers!

Transition to independent practice. Explain that students will get a worksheet and should work through the problems carefully. Remind them to show their work and think about the steps for two-step problems. Encourage them to ask questions.

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Word Problem Match

Instructions: Read each word problem carefully. Draw a line to match each problem to the operation you would use to solve it.

Word Problems

  1. There are 4 tables in the classroom. Each table has 6 students. How many students are there in total?



  2. Maria has 18 cookies and wants to share them equally among her 3 friends. How many cookies does each friend get?



  3. A farmer planted 7 rows of corn with 8 corn plants in each row. How many corn plants did he plant?



  4. John has 24 toy cars. He wants to put them into boxes, with 6 cars in each box. How many boxes will he need?



Operations

  • Multiplication
  • Division
  • Multiplication
  • Division
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Worksheet

Worksheet: Problem Solvers

Instructions: Read each word problem carefully and solve it. Show your work!

  1. One-Step Problem: Sarah bought 5 packs of stickers. Each pack has 7 stickers. How many stickers does Sarah have in total?






  2. One-Step Problem: A baker made 36 cupcakes. He wants to put them into boxes, with 6 cupcakes in each box. How many boxes will he need?






  3. Two-Step Problem: There are 4 baskets, and each basket has 8 apples. If 5 apples are eaten, how many apples are left?











  4. Two-Step Problem: David has 20 marbles. He shares them equally among his 4 friends. Then, each friend finds 2 more marbles. How many marbles does each friend have now?











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Answer Key

Answer Key: Problem Solvers

Instructions: Review the answers and the step-by-step thought processes.

Warm-Up: Word Problem Match

  1. There are 4 tables in the classroom. Each table has 6 students. How many students are there in total?
    • Operation: Multiplication
    • Thought Process: The word
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Multiply & Divide: Word Problems • Lenny Learning