Tricky Thursday
4-Step Problem Solving Process
Problem solving places the focus of the student’s attention on ideas and sense making. When students solve problems they’re reflecting on ideas and drawing from prior experiences. They make connections. Problem solving allows an entry point for a wide range of students. Good problem-based tasks usually have multiple paths toward the solution. We teach and use the 4-Step Problem Solving Process.
Read
Understanding the problem
- Can you state the problem in your own words?
- What are you trying to find or do?
- What are the unknowns?
- What information can you obtain from the problem?
- What information, if any, is missing or not needed?
Plan
Can you…
- Find a pattern
- Act it out
- Write a number sentence
- Choose the operation
- Make a graph
- Make a table
- Use logical reasoning
- Draw a picture
Solve
Carry out your plan by:
- Implementing the strategy you chose from step 2.
- Checking each step as you proceed
- Showing your work
Look Back
- Decide if your answer is correct.
- Ask yourself if it makes sense.
- Check your work.
- Consider another method of solving the problem.
Remember that good problem solving involves multiple paths toward the solution!
September 10 Challenge
Mrs. M’s class likes different fruits. 6 children like bananas, 3 like blueberries, and 5 like oranges.
Which fruit do they like the most?
Which fruit do they like the least?
How many students are in the class?
September 17, 2009
Pod 1 likes red and green chips. Mrs. G’s class has 6 red chips. Mrs. S’s class has 4 more green chips than Mrs. G’s red chips.
How many green chips does Mrs. S’s class have?
How many chips are there in all?
TOP
September 24, 2009
There are 8 frogs sitting on lily pads. 4 are purple and 4 are orange. 2 purple frogs jump into the water. 1 orange frog jumps in.
1. How many frogs are still on the lily pads?
2. How many are purple?
3. How many are orange?
TOP
October 1, 2009
In Mrs. T’s class, there are 3 blue glue sticks. There are 7 orange glue sticks. There are 15 children in the class.
- How many glue sticks are there in Mrs. T’s class?
- How many more orange than blue?
- How many children do NOT have a glue stick?
Solution presented by Mrs. RS's pod 6 Kindergarten class.
TOP
October 22
Mrs C’s class likes dogs. They have 4 Mrs. M’s class likes cats. They have 4. Mrs. F’s class likes birds. They have 5.
How many animals does pod 4 have?
How many MORE animals have 4 legs than 2 legs??
TOP
October 29
Ms. K has 8 green leaves. Ms. B has 6 red leaves. Ms. A has 5 orange leaves.
How many leaves are NOT green? How many will be brown?