Teaching the Common Core Math Standards With Hands-On Activities, Grades 3-5 (23 page)

Scissors; one copy of the reproducible, “Problems and Reasonable Answers,” for the teacher's use.

Preparation

Make a copy of the reproducible and cut out the word problems along the broken lines.

Procedure

1.
Divide your class into eight groups and explain that they will be working with eight word problems.

2.
Hand out a different word problem slip to each group. Explain to your students that after reading the problem and determining what they are to find, they are to write an equation that can be used to solve their problem, using a letter to represent what they are trying to find. After solving the problem, they are to determine if their answer is reasonable. Caution them to interpret quotients that have remainders, if necessary. Allow time for students to work. Explain that students should do all their work on a separate sheet of paper, not the slip of paper containing their problem.

3.
After all groups have solved their first problem, instruct your students to exchange their problems with another group. For example, the group that had problem 1 should pass their problem to the group that had problem 2, and the group that had problem 2 should pass their problem to the group that had problem 3, and so on. (
Note:
Having groups working on one problem at a time allows you to manage the activity more efficiently and helps to keep the groups focused.)

4.
Make sure that all groups have a chance to solve all eight problems.

Closure

Call on the final group that finished with problem 1 and ask them to present their work to the class. Have the other groups compare their work and make any corrections. Next call on the final group to finish problem 2, then problem 3, and so on until each problem has been presented. Note that different groups may have written different equations to solve some problems. Ask your students how they determined if their answers were reasonable.

Answer

Equations may vary; one equation is provided for each problem.
(1)
;
;
(2)
(3)
4 tables are required
(4)
Andrew parked;
total hours
(5)