ALEX Learning Activity

  

Solving Multistep Word Problems Practice

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Hannah Bradley
System:Dothan City
School:Carver Magnet School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2506
Title:
Solving Multistep Word Problems Practice
Digital Tool/Resource:
A Collection of Math Word Problems for Grades 1 to 6
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This resource provides teachers with a plethora of multistep word problems that can be used for instruction and small group or independent practice. The teacher can choose the difficulty level of the problems as well as the skills addressed (mathematical operation, one-step, two-step, etc.). 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 4
3. Determine and justify solutions for multi-step word problems, including problems where remainders must be interpreted.

a. Write equations to show solutions for multi-step word problems with a letter standing for the unknown quantity.

b. Determine reasonableness of answers for multi-step word problems, using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
When given multi step word problems,
  • Solve a variety of multistep word problems involving all four operations on whole numbers including problems where remainders must be interpreted.
  • Explain and justify solutions using connections between the problem and related equations involving a single (letter) unknown.
  • Evaluate the reasonableness of solutions using estimation strategies.
Note: Multi step problems must have at least 3 steps.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Operation
  • Multi Step problem
  • Remainder
  • Unknown quantity
  • Equation
  • Rounding
  • Mental strategy
  • Partition
  • Estimation
  • Reasonableness
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Context situations represented by the four operations.
  • How to calculate sums, differences, products, and quotients.
  • Estimation strategies to justify solutions as reasonable.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Solve multi-step word situations using the four operations.
  • Represent quantities and operations physically, pictorially, or symbolically.
  • Write equations to represent the word problem and use symbols to represent unknown quantities.
  • Use context and reasoning to interpret remainders.
  • Use estimation strategies to assess reasonableness of answers by comparing actual answers to estimates.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • Using problem solving strategies will help them determine which operation to use to solve a problem.
  • Remainders must be interpreted based on the context, and remainders are sometimes ignored, rounded up, or partitioned.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.4.3.1: Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
M.4.3.2: Solve single-step word problems.
M.4.3.3: Recognize key terms to solve word problems.
Examples: in all, how much, how many, in each.
M.4.3.4: Solve division problems without remainders.
M.4.3.5: Recall basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Demonstrate computational understanding of multiplication and division by solving authentic problems with multiple representations using drawings, words, and/or numbers.
  • Identify key vocabulary words to solve multiplication and division word problems.
    Examples: times, every, at this rate, each, per, equal/equally, in all, total.
  • Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
  • Recall basic multiplication facts.
  • Add and subtract within 20.
  • Represent repeated addition, subtraction, and equal groups using manipulatives.
  • Distinguish between rows and columns.
  • Use repeated addition to solve problems with multiple addends.
  • Count forward in multiples from a given number.
    Examples: 3, 6, 9, 12; 4, 8, 12, 16.
  • Recall doubles addition facts.
  • Model written method for composing equations.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.4.1 Solve one-step word problems involving real-life situations using the four operations within 100 without regrouping and select the appropriate method of computation when problem solving.
Learning Objectives:

Students will solve multistep word problems with whole numbers by representing these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

1. The teacher should choose a category of problems from the digital resource to present to students. (Note: The resources are listed from least to most difficult on the website.)

2. The teacher should use the available word problems on the website to practice this skill with the students. For example, the teacher could read the word problem and have students write the equation on their paper. Then the teacher could write the equation on the board and solve it with the students.

3. After sufficient whole-class practice, the teacher should choose a new set of word problems from the digital resource and divide the students into five groups. Each group will solve one word problem from the set given on the website. (Note: The teacher can click the "Show all questions" button to display all five questions on the board at once.)

4. After being given time to write and solve the equation, each student group should present their work to their classmates. The classmates in the audience should check the presenting group's work and make any revisions if needed. Then, the leader from the presenting group should type the answer into the box and click "Check."

5. If internet-capable digital devices are available for all students, the teacher can allow students to complete a new set of word problems independently on the website.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher will review each group's equation and solution for accuracy. If internet-capable digital devices are available for students, the teacher can review each student's completion of the word problems on the website.
Advanced Preparation:

The teacher will need internet access and the ability to project a website to an interactive whiteboard. 

The students need paper and pencil to complete the practice problems with the teacher and their group. 

 
Variation Tips (optional):

The teacher could integrate art into the learning activity by requiring each student group to illustrate their assigned word problem. 

Students could use internet-capable digital devices to individually complete the practice problems on the website. If devices are not available, the teacher can print the website page and copy for students to complete.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

ALCOS 2019

3. Determine and justify solutions for multi-step word problems, including problems where remainders must be interpreted.

a. Write equations to show solutions for multi-step word problems with a letter standing for the unknown quantity.

b.Determine reasonableness of answers for multi-step word problems, using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: addition, division, equations, multiplication, multistep, subtraction, unknown, variables, whole numbers, word problems