Problem Solving

McCree, Marilyn                                District 12
                                               1-312-838-5120
                           
Objective 

The student will be able to solve word problems using addition, subtraction, 
multiplication or division. 

Equipment and Materials

A play Grocery Store                           Pointer
Pencils                                        Money 
Paper                                          Ruler
Magazines                                      Cash Register
Scissors                                       Newspaper Ads

Recommended Strategy:

Discuss with your class when we solve problems in real life.  We must decide what 
information we need in order to answer the question that is asked.  Frequently we 
have a lot of information that we do not need and sometimes we do not have the 
information that we do need.  Discuss different things we see and buy when we go to 
the grocery store.  Set up a real grocery store in your classroom, attach prices to 
them.  Have a student select three or four items for purchase.  Have student give the 
total price of all items.  Ask student how much change they would receive from $5.  
Ask student how much change they would receive from $10.I would extend the activity 
described above and ask student what they would buy for $5.  Could they buy one of 
each item?  two or more items? Have the students use grocery ads from the newspapers.  
Specify an amount of money they might have, say $20.  Check several items and have 
them compute the total price and determine how much money they would have left.  The 
student should make up word problems to exchange with other students.  Give students 
card with number "Headlines" on them and have students make up word problems to go 
with them. 

                 Ex.  (75 + 65 + 35 = _____).

Procedures:

1.  Read the problem carefully.
2.  Picture in your mind what is happening.
3.  What information is given.
4.  What is the question?
5.  Decide what arithmetic you will use.  Do the arithmetic.
6.  Answer the question.