Ask any student and they will tell you that they HATE word problems. Students don't know where to begin or how to methodically go about solving most word problems. Today we introduced a 5 step method that will help them organize their ideas and methodically break down a word problem. Along with this system we will be introducing a variety of Mathematical Strategies for them to try and apply to these problems. The chart below will be up in the room all year and students can refer to it whenever they like. Please go over this with your child over the next few days when they begin to bring home word problems to solve. We did several sample problems together today to show the students how to go about organizing their ideas and mathematical information. Below is a sample problem that we did today.
Norbert the gnome and his pal Malcolm measure 100 cm together. Norbert is 16 cm taller than Malcolm.How tall are the gnomes?
(we highlighted key words and numbers)
Question: How tall are the 2 gnomes?
Facts: both gnomes = 100cm
norbert is 16cm taller
Solve: ( we introduced guess and check as our first strategy today)
1st guess:Norbert = 60 cm and malcolm is 40 cm
60cm + 40 cm = 100 cm that matches our first fact
60 cm - 40 cm= 20 cm, no they are not 20cm apart, they should be 16 cm apart.
( this first guess should help them get closer to the final answer)
2nd guess: I'm close because they are 20cm apart not 16 , so I will change my guess by 4
Norbert = 58 cm and malcolm is 42 cm
58cm +42 cm = 100 cm matches my first fact
58cm - 42cm = 16 cm, matches my second fact
Norbert is 58 cm tall and Malcolm is 42 cm tall. (Finally they should look at the answer and see if it makes sense)
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