Making
Meaning for
Operations
KSDE/KATM Summer
Academy ~ 2011
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Modeling Word Problems
Work the 5 problems using either
cubes or counters. Do not work
with others – yet.
Write the equations
AFTER working the
problem with the
manipulatives.
When finished discuss your work and
question #2 with your group.
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Modeling Word Problems
Look at the first problem.
What equation did you write down?
What about the second problem?
How many wrote the
same equation as
shared?
A different one?
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Modeling Word Problems
Let’s look at each problem and
analyze the structure of each one.
Use Table 1 from the
Common Core State
Standards to find out
which situations each
problem illustrates.
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Common Addition & Subtraction Situations
Add to
Result Unknown
Change Unknown
Start Unknown
Put
Together/
Take
Apart2
Total Unknown
Addend Unknown
Both Addends
Unknown1
Compare3
Difference Unknown
Bigger Unknown
Smaller Unknown
Taken from
CCSS pg. 73 – Table 1
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Common Addition & Subtraction Situations
What types of problems do you
use in your classroom?
Discuss with your
group what the
implications are for
instruction.
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Connections to the CCSS
Critical Areas
Kindergarten:
. . . modeling simple joining and separating situations
with sets of objects, or eventually with equations such
as 5 + 2 = 7 and 7 – 2 = 5.
1st grade:
. . . developing understanding of addition, subtraction,
and strategies for addition and subtraction within 20.
. . . model add-to, take-from, put-together, take-apart,
and compare situations to develop meaning for the
operations of addition and subtraction
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net
Connections to the CCSS
Critical Areas
2nd grade:
. . . applying their understanding of models for addition
and subtraction, and they develop, discuss, and use
efficient, accurate, and generalizable methods to
compute sums and differences of whole numbers.
. . . select and accurately apply methods that are
appropriate for the context and the numbers involved.
Debbie Thompson ~ dthompson1@usd259.net