Word Problem Warm-Up: What Do You See?

Directions: Read the word problem below. Don't solve it yet! Just think about what information you see and what the problem is asking.

There are 4 cookies on a plate. Mom bakes 3 more cookies. How many cookies are on the plate now?

Discussion Questions:

1. What numbers do you see in the story?
   
   
   
   
2. What is the story about?
   
   
   
   
3. What is the problem asking us to find out?
   
   
   
   

Word Problem Wonders: Reading the Clues! Script

Warm-Up: Problem Solver Starters (3 minutes)

"Good morning, future math whizzes! Today we're going on an adventure into the world of word problems. To get our brains warmed up, let's look at a quick story problem together. Don't worry about solving it yet, just tell me what you notice!"

(Display Word Problem Warm-Up)

"Can someone read this problem for us?"

(Allow a student to read.)

"Great! Now, looking at this problem, what numbers do you see? And what is this story mainly about? What is it asking us to find out?"

(Encourage students to share their initial thoughts, focusing on identifying the numbers and the question. Guide them without giving the answer.)

Introduction to Word Problem Wonders (3 minutes)

(Transition to Word Problem Wonders Slide Deck - Slide 1 and then Slide 2)

"Excellent thinking, everyone! Today, we're going to become 'Word Problem Wonders' and learn how to solve these number stories. Word problems are super cool because they show us how we use math every single day! They're like little puzzles where we have to find the missing piece."

(Transition to Word Problem Wonders Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"To help us solve any word problem, we have a secret strategy with four simple steps. Let's say them together: Read, Underline, Solve, Check!

• Read: First, we read the whole problem carefully, maybe even twice!
• Underline: Next, we underline the important numbers and those special words that tell us if we need to add or subtract.
• Solve: Then, we solve the problem using what we underlined.
• Check: And finally, we check our answer to make sure it makes sense in the story."

Guided Practice: Let's Solve Together! (5 minutes)

(Transition to Word Problem Wonders Slide Deck - Slide 4: Addition Example)

"Let's try our strategy with our first problem. Can someone read this for us?"

(Allow a student to read. If needed, read it again clearly.)

"Okay, first step: Read - we've done that! Now, Underline. What are the important numbers in this story? Yes, 3 red apples and 2 green apples. What are the clue words that tell us what to do? 'In total' tells us we need to add! Excellent!

So, if Maya has 3 red apples and 2 green apples, and we want to know how many in total, what math problem should we write?"

(Guide students to say or write "3 + 2 = ?")

"And what is 3 + 2? Yes, 5! So, Maya has 5 apples in total."

"Last step: Check! Does 5 apples make sense if she started with 3 and got 2 more? Yes, it does!"

(Transition to Word Problem Wonders Slide Deck - Slide 5: Subtraction Example)

"You're doing great! Let's try another one. Who can read this problem for us?"

(Allow a student to read.)

"Alright, Read - check! Now, Underline. What are the important numbers? 7 birds and 3 birds. What words tell us what to do this time? 'Flew away' and 'how many are left' tell us we need to subtract! You got it!

So, if there were 7 birds and 3 flew away, what math problem should we write?"

(Guide students to say or write "7 - 3 = ?")

"And what is 7 - 3? Great, 4! So, there are 4 birds left on the branch."

"Check! If 3 birds flew away from 7, would there be 4 left? Yes, it makes sense!"

Independent Practice: Worksheet Wizards (3 minutes)

(Transition to Word Problem Wonders Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"You've shown me you understand our secret strategy! Now it's your turn to be the word problem experts! I'm going to give you a Word Problem Practice Worksheet. Remember to use our strategy for each problem: Read, Underline, Solve, Check! I'll be walking around to help if you get stuck."

(Distribute worksheets. Circulate and provide individual support.)

Wrap-Up: Quick Share (1 minute)

"Alright everyone, pencils down! Let's quickly share what we learned today. What's one important thing to remember when solving word problems?"

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts, reinforcing the R-U-S-C strategy.)

"Fantastic job today, Word Problem Wonders! You did a great job reading the clues and solving those number stories. I'm collecting your worksheets now. See you next time!"

Word Problem Practice: Be a Math Detective!

Directions: Read each word problem carefully. Use our Read, Underline, Solve, Check strategy to find the answer. Show your work!

1. The Apple Orchard

There were 5 red apples on a tree. 4 green apples were also on the tree. How many apples were on the tree in all?

Underline:

Solve:

Answer:

2. Birds on a Wire

7 birds were sitting on a telephone wire. 2 birds flew away. How many birds were left on the wire?

Underline:

Solve:

Answer:

3. Toys in a Basket

Sam had 6 toy cars. His friend gave him 3 more toy cars. How many toy cars does Sam have now?

Underline:

Solve:

Answer:

4. Flowers in the Garden

There were 10 flowers blooming in the garden. A bunny ate 4 of the flowers. How many flowers are still blooming?

Underline:

Solve:

Answer:

Word Problem Practice: Answer Key

Directions: Review the answers and the steps to solve each word problem.

1. The Apple Orchard

Problem: There were 5 red apples on a tree. 4 green apples were also on the tree. How many apples were on the tree in all?

Thought Process:

1. Read: The problem asks for the total number of apples.
2. Underline: Key numbers: 5 red apples, 4 green apples. Key words: in all (tells us to add).
3. Solve: Since we need to find the total, we add the number of red apples and green apples.
   5 + 4 = 9
4. Check: If there were 5 and 4 more were added, 9 is a reasonable total.

Answer: There were 9 apples on the tree in all.

2. Birds on a Wire

Problem: 7 birds were sitting on a telephone wire. 2 birds flew away. How many birds were left on the wire?

Thought Process:

1. Read: The problem asks how many birds remained after some flew away.
2. Underline: Key numbers: 7 birds, 2 birds. Key words: flew away, how many were left (tells us to subtract).
3. Solve: Since birds flew away, we subtract the number of birds that left from the starting number.
   7 - 2 = 5
4. Check: If 2 birds left from 7, 5 birds remaining is a reasonable answer.

Answer: There were 5 birds left on the wire.

3. Toys in a Basket

Problem: Sam had 6 toy cars. His friend gave him 3 more toy cars. How many toy cars does Sam have now?

Thought Process:

1. Read: The problem asks for the new total number of toy cars Sam has.
2. Underline: Key numbers: 6 toy cars, 3 more toy cars. Key words: gave him more, how many now (tells us to add).
3. Solve: Since Sam received more toy cars, we add the initial number to the number his friend gave him.
   6 + 3 = 9
4. Check: Adding 3 to 6 results in 9, which makes sense for having more cars.

Answer: Sam has 9 toy cars now.

4. Flowers in the Garden

Problem: There were 10 flowers blooming in the garden. A bunny ate 4 of the flowers. How many flowers are still blooming?

Thought Process:

1. Read: The problem asks how many flowers are left after some were eaten.
2. Underline: Key numbers: 10 flowers, 4 of the flowers. Key words: ate, how many are still blooming (tells us to subtract).
3. Solve: Since some flowers were eaten, we subtract the number eaten from the initial number of flowers.
   10 - 4 = 6
4. Check: If 4 flowers were eaten from 10, 6 flowers remaining is a reasonable answer.

Answer: There are 6 flowers still blooming.