Two Step Word Problems

CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.D.8 Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding.

Guiding Ideas

Word Problem Mad Lib Multiplication

Hand out the Word Problem Design Sheet Packet (see Supporting Files section) and walk your students through the word problem MathLib on page 1. Next, unveil the Big Idea:

Some problems take more than one step to solve.

Student Activities

Build Battle: Build a Word Problem

Practice Building Math Models

Have students load the attached "Two Step Word Problems" Minecraft world. Complete the six practice problems to unlock the Build Battle Stage.

Plan the build

On the attached worksheet, have students choose one of the four problems.

After they solve and check their problem with a peer who did the same problem,they will become building partners and plan their build together by:

a. Changing the characters and the numbers (if they want)

b. Changing the setting (if they want)

c. Drawing the set with a math model

Build the Problem in Minecraft

Once the last pair of students finishes, start the clock twenty minutes.

Partners work together and build the word problem that has:

a. The problem written on a slate

b. The equation on a slate 5 x 5 6 = 19

c. A setting

d. NPCs as characters (if they finish their builds with time to spare, make the NPCs talk)

e. A math model of the problem

If students finish before the time is up, encourage them to add more details.

Peer Review

Once time has been called, each group will check out another group’s word problem:

a. Is the math correct and how do I know?

b. Is the math model correct?

c. Does the story make sense?

d. What ideas can I think of to improve this set?

e. What ideas did I learn from looking at this set?

Best Practices: Things like set building ideas, math, and story are all things that can be learned or taught, so lead the students to these topics if they are having trouble thinking of ideas to add.

Debrief

The teacher will facilitate a discussion of what the students learned.

Performance Expectations

1. The student was able to identify what mathematical operations to use to solve the problem.

2. The student was able to deconstruct a word problem by identifying the characters, likely setting, the problem, the number family, and the variables.

3. The student was able to independently read and solve a two- step word problem.

4. The student was able to complete the four-question worksheet for homework.

5. The student provided valuable feedback during peer review.

6. The student was able to build a word problem story set in Minecraft. The story sets must include:

a. A set that showed the character and setting out of the word problems

b. Use of NPCs to get their characters to have a conversation about the word problem

c. At least one Minecraft math model that represented the math of the word problem

7. The student exhibited higher level thinking skills such as:

a. Was able to explain the associative or distributive property

b. Created a unique math model

c. Wrote their own word problem