Attacking Word Problems

Lesson Plan #: AELP-MPS0203

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Donna Luty
Email: MomLuty@cs.com
School/University/Affiliation: South Sumter Middle School, Webster, FL

Date: October 26, 2001

Grade Level: 6, 7, 8

Subject(s):

Mathematics/Process Skills
Mathematics/Arithmetic

Duration: 40-50 minutes

Description: This lesson describes a brainstorming activity in which students identify words and/or phrases in word problems that allude to which operation is to be performed (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division).

Goal: To ease anxiety when solving word problems by identifying words and/or phrases indicative of the four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).

Objective: Students will be able to work cooperatively in groups to produce lists of words and/or phrases which indicate the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Materials:

classroom mathematics textbook(s)
paper and pencils
Attacking Word Problems Handouts

Attacking Word Problems Handouts in .pdf format; requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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Procedure:
Divide students into cooperative learning groups of 2-4. Students can use their math textbook or other math textbooks available in the room. Tell students to zero in on any word problems found in the math book and identify words and/or phrases which indicate they should add, subtract, multiply, or divide to find the answer to each problem. (Teachers might want to model one example on the board to help students get started.) Although students are working cooperatively, they should each record the results of the group's search for future reference. This activity works best if students have a separate sheet (or side of a sheet) of paper for each different operation. (See Materials above for sample handouts.)

After allowing students to brainstorm in their cooperative learning groups, pull them back together and make a "master list" by having each group contribute one at a time. Optional: The next day you may follow-up by adding subsequent periods' contributions until students have the most complete list possible from all the day's classes.

Assessment: Collect students' papers at the end of class. Teachers may want to use the activity for a classwork or homework grade. Make sure to return students' papers so that they can use the phrases as a reference tool all year long.

Useful Internet Resources:
* Solving Math Word Problems
http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/MATHPROBLEMS.htm

* Key Words and Catch Phrases for Word Problems
http://www.mathstories.com/key_words.htm

Special Comments: I've done this for several years now, and the kids seem to enjoy it. This past year I enhanced the process by using PowerPoint and creating some "cutesie" pages on which they could record their findings. The pages were entitled "Words That Mean Add," "Words That Mean Subtract," "Words That Mean Multiply," and "Words That Mean Divide," with plenty of blank space for them to write their words and phrases.