Simple Problem Solving
Information About This Unit
Description of Learning Unit:
In this unit, your child will learn how to solve basic word problems with answers that are 10 or less. Your child will use manipulatives to solve addition and subtraction word problems using cats, whales, fish, and bugs. For additional practice solving word problems, there are worksheets and online games. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach math.
List of Objectives:
- Use manipulatives to solve addition and subtraction word problems with answers that are 10 or less.
- Be able to help write number sentences that illustrate word problems.
List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:
- 10 cat counters or pictures of cats
- Cardstock
- Construction paper for a workmat
- Crayons
- Pencil
- Paper
- 2 homemade dice
- 10 Goldfish crackers
- Paper
- Pencil
- Paper cup
- Gray construction paper
- Scissors
- Whale template
- Fish counters, stickers and/or pictures
- Cardstock
- Blue construction paper
- Paper
- Pencil
- Picture book about fish, if desired
- Paper
- Crayons
Cardstock
Manipulatives (counters, beans, foam circles or small bugs)
You will need Adobe Reader to display the PDF file.
Leaf mat
Worksheets:
- Paper
- Printer
- Pencil
- Adobe Reader may be required for some
Links to Free Learning Material
Links to Online Lessons:
The concepts in this pathway are primarily taught from an experiential, hands-on perspective. Children will spend less time reading background information and lessons, and more time engaged in the projects, activities and other learning tools in the sections below.
Reference Websites:
| Math Games at Home | (no rating) |
Visit this site to learn how various games can be adapted to make learning math fun.
Hands-On Projects and Activities:
| Creative Cats | (no rating) |
For this activity, you will tell your child a math story to demonstrate how to solve simple word problems.
| The Whale | (no rating) |
This fun activity allows your child to solve word problems while acting out subtraction and addition stories.
| Splash | (no rating) |
Help your child solve addition and subtraction word problems by modeling stories using fish counters, pictures or stickers.
| Count the Cherries | (no rating) |
Using drawings of cherries, act out simple subtraction or addition word problems.
| How Many Bugs | (no rating) |
Make up subtraction and addition stories using a leaf story mat. Then, have your child solve the problems using manipulatives.
Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):
| Count the Flowers | (no rating) |
Figure out how many tulips are blooming. Use the worksheet to draw the solution.
| Count the Pumpkins | (no rating) |
Use this worksheet to help your child figure out how many pumpkins the farmer grew in his garden.
| Count the Bones | (no rating) |
Use this worksheet to help your child solve the word problem and figure out how many bones Spot hid in the yard.
| Add the Animals | (no rating) |
Have your child solve the word problems and figure out how many animals there are.
| Match the Picture and Number Sentence | (no rating) |
In this interactive game, your child will match a word problem to its corresponding number sentence.
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Free Online Video:
| Math Manipulatives | (no rating) |
Manipulatives help your child visualize word problems. Watch this video to learn more about inexpensive ways to use manipulatives when teaching math.
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Free Online Audio: 
Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):