Lesson Plan
Number Ninjas: Problem Power!
Students will be able to identify key information in word problems and apply appropriate strategies to solve them.
Understanding how to solve word problems helps students apply math skills to real-world situations, building confidence and critical thinking.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application.
Materials
- Number Ninjas Slide Deck, - Problem Power Worksheet, - Pencils or markers, and - Whiteboard or projector
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Number Ninjas Slide Deck and practice the script.
- Print copies of the Problem Power Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready for display.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Brain Warm-Up Challenge
5 minutes
Begin with a quick mental math challenge or a simple word problem to get students thinking.
- Display a warm-up problem on the board (e.g., "If you have 12 apples and eat 3, how many are left?").
- Ask students to solve it individually and share their strategies. (See Warm-Up: Problem Power Prep)
Step 2
Introduction: What's the Problem?
5 minutes
Introduce the concept of word problems and why they are important.
- Use the Number Ninjas Slide Deck to present the lesson's objective and hook.
- Explain that word problems are like puzzles that use numbers and words to tell a story.
Step 3
Strategy Session: Decoding Word Problems
10 minutes
Teach students a step-by-step strategy for solving word problems (e.g., 'Read, Identify, Plan, Solve, Check').
- Go through example problems using the Number Ninjas Slide Deck, modeling each step.
- Encourage students to identify keywords that indicate operations (e.g., 'altogether,' 'left,' 'in total').
Step 4
Guided Practice: Team Up to Solve!
5 minutes
Work through a few problems together as a class or in small groups.
- Distribute the Problem Power Worksheet.
- Guide students through the first one or two problems on the worksheet, prompting them to use the learned strategies.
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 5
Wrap-Up: Reflect and Share
5 minutes
Conclude the lesson with a brief reflection and a look ahead.
- Ask students to share one thing they learned about solving word problems.
- Collect the Problem Power Worksheet for review.
- Announce that they are now 'Number Ninjas' ready to tackle any problem! (See Cool Down: Problem Power Wrap-Up)
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Slide Deck
Number Ninjas: Problem Power!
Ready to decode the math mysteries?
Welcome students and build excitement for becoming 'Number Ninjas'!
Our Mission Today:
- Understand what word problems are.
- Learn a secret strategy to solve them.
- Become a Problem-Solving Pro!
Why? Because math is everywhere, and these skills help you every day!
Explain the objective clearly and why this skill is important in everyday life.
What's a Word Problem?
It's a math story!
Numbers and words work together to ask you a question you need to solve.
Example: "Sarah had 5 cookies. Her friend gave her 3 more. How many cookies does Sarah have now?"
Engage students with a simple definition and examples of where they might see word problems.
Our Secret Ninja Strategy!
- Read: Understand the whole story.
- Identify: Find the numbers and what the question is asking.
- Plan: Decide what operation (+, -, x, ÷) to use.
- Solve: Do the math!
- Check: Does your answer make sense?
Introduce the 'Read, Identify, Plan, Solve, Check' strategy. Go through each step briefly.
Let's Practice! Example 1
Problem: "There are 8 birds on a tree. 4 more birds fly to the tree. How many birds are on the tree in total?"
- Read: (Read aloud together)
- Identify: 8 birds, 4 more birds, "how many in total?"
- Plan: "in total" means addition!
- Solve: 8 + 4 = ?
- Check: Does 12 birds make sense?
Model the first example, talking through each step of the RIPSC strategy.
Another Challenge! Example 2
Problem: "A baker made 15 cupcakes. He sold 7 of them. How many cupcakes are left?"
- Read: (Read aloud together)
- Identify: 15 cupcakes, sold 7, "how many are left?"
- Plan: "left" means subtraction!
- Solve: 15 - 7 = ?
- Check: Does 8 cupcakes make sense?
Model the second example. Encourage student participation in each step.
Your Turn, Number Ninjas!
Now it's time to show off your problem-solving skills!
Work on the Problem Power Worksheet.
Remember your R.I.P.S.C. strategy!
Transition to the independent practice worksheet.
You are a Problem Power Pro!
You've practiced decoding word problems and using your ninja strategy!
Keep practicing, and you'll be unstoppable!
Wrap up the lesson, reminding them of their new skills.
Warm Up
Warm-Up: Problem Power Prep
Welcome, Number Ninjas! Let's get our brains warmed up for some problem-solving.
Problem: You have a box with 10 crayons. Your friend gives you 5 more crayons. How many crayons do you have now?
Show your work and write your answer below.
Answer:
Worksheet
Problem Power Worksheet
Name: ________________________
Number Ninjas! Use your R.I.P.S.C. strategy to solve the problems below. Remember to:
- Read the problem carefully.
- Identify the important numbers and what the question is asking.
- Plan your strategy (add, subtract, etc.).
- Solve the problem.
- Check your answer.
Problems to Solve!
Problem 1: Lisa has 7 red balloons and 9 blue balloons. How many balloons does Lisa have in total?
Read:
Identify:
Plan:
Solve:
Check:
Answer:
Problem 2: Mark baked 24 cookies. His family ate 11 of them. How many cookies are left?
Read:
Identify:
Plan:
Solve:
Check:
Answer:
Problem 3: A farmer has 12 apple trees and 15 orange trees. How many fruit trees does the farmer have altogether?
Read:
Identify:
Plan:
Solve:
Check:
Answer:
Problem 4: There were 30 children at the park. 13 children went home. How many children are still at the park?
Read:
Identify:
Plan:
Solve:
Check:
Answer:
Answer Key
Problem Power Worksheet Answer Key
Problems to Solve!
Problem 1: Lisa has 7 red balloons and 9 blue balloons. How many balloons does Lisa have in total?
Thought Process:
- Read: The problem is asking for the total number of balloons Lisa has.
- Identify: Important numbers are 7 (red balloons) and 9 (blue balloons). The question asks "in total."
- Plan: "In total" suggests addition.
- Solve: 7 + 9 = 16
- Check: If Lisa has 7 and gets 9 more, 16 is a reasonable total.
Answer: Lisa has 16 balloons in total.
Problem 2: Mark baked 24 cookies. His family ate 11 of them. How many cookies are left?
Thought Process:
- Read: The problem asks how many cookies remain after some were eaten.
- Identify: Important numbers are 24 (total cookies) and 11 (cookies eaten). The question asks "how many are left."
- Plan: "Are left" suggests subtraction.
- Solve: 24 - 11 = 13
- Check: If Mark started with 24 and 11 are gone, 13 is a reasonable number remaining.
Answer: There are 13 cookies left.
Problem 3: A farmer has 12 apple trees and 15 orange trees. How many fruit trees does the farmer have altogether?
Thought Process:
- Read: The problem asks for the combined number of apple and orange trees.
- Identify: Important numbers are 12 (apple trees) and 15 (orange trees). The question asks "how many altogether."
- Plan: "Altogether" suggests addition.
- Solve: 12 + 15 = 27
- Check: If the farmer has 12 and 15, 27 is a reasonable combined total.
Answer: The farmer has 27 fruit trees altogether.
Problem 4: There were 30 children at the park. 13 children went home. How many children are still at the park?
Thought Process:
- Read: The problem asks how many children are remaining at the park after some left.
- Identify: Important numbers are 30 (total children) and 13 (children who left). The question asks "how many are still at the park."
- Plan: Children leaving suggests subtraction.
- Solve: 30 - 13 = 17
- Check: If 30 children were there and 13 left, 17 is a reasonable number still present.
Answer: There are 17 children still at the park.
Cool Down
Cool Down: Problem Power Wrap-Up
Great job today, Number Ninjas! To wrap up, please answer the following question:
What is one new strategy you learned today that will help you solve word problems?