Subject: Math
Lesson Length: 30 - 40 mins
Topic: Operations & Algebraic Thinking; Multi-Step Word Problems Using The Four Operations
Brief Description: Students will explain the solution of multistep word problems using the four operations.
Know Before You Start: Students should have prior experience solving multistep word problems using the four operations. This lesson is a perfect formative assessment.
Hook: Discuss solving word problems. How do you know which operation(s) to use? Which keywords do you look for?
Discuss how to know when a word problem requires multiple steps to solve.
- Look for hidden questions.
- Determine if all of the information needed to solve the problem is present in the word problem.
Activity: It’s time to solve a word problem in a comic! Display or distribute copies of the sample comic.
- Students will choose either sample problem A or B.
- Students will explain the steps and operations needed to solve either problem in a three-to-five-panel comic.
Closure: Have students pair up with a classmate who chose the same problem they did. Students will share and compare their process and solutions with one another to see if they agree and/or if they are reasonable.
Differentiation:
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Allow students to work in pairs.
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Allow students to utilize the speech-to-text feature.
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Provide step-by-step directions for solving multistep word problems.
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Provide sentence stems, “First I ___. Next, I ___. Then I ___. Last, I ___.”