What are the steps in the
Four Step Plan to solve
math problems?
Miss Hartgrove
Hanes Middle School
Lesson Outline
Today we are going to…
• Talk about what it means to solve
problems.
• Learn the best way to solve math
problems.
• Use our new problem solving plan to solve
math problems.
What do you already
know about problem
solving?
What do you want to learn
about problem solving?
The Four Step Plan to Solving
Math Problems
• To help us solve math problems that we
encounter in class, we are going to use a
problem solving plan.
• This plan gives you a step-by-step guide
to solving any math problem.
• If you use this plan, I can guarantee that
you will be able to solve math problems!
Step One: Explore
In Step One you should identify the following
information.
• Read the problem
• What do you know?
• What do you need to find out?
Step Two: Plan
In Step Two you should identify the following
information:
• How can you solve the problem?
• Estimate an answer.
Step Three: Solve
In Step Three you should identify the
following information:
• Solve the problem.
What strategy did you use?
• What is the solution?
Step Four: Examine
In Step Four you should identify the
following information:
• Re-read the problem.
• Does the answer make sense?
• Check your answer
– Make a new plan if needed!
Let’s Practice with an
Example:
Using the example word problem on the
board, I am going to show you how we use
the Four Step Plan.
After this example, you will help me to solve
a word problem using our checklist.
Example:
John collects toy trains. He already has
10 trains in his collection. For his
birthday, his parents gave him 5 more
trains. John also gets 3 trains from his
aunt. While playing with the trains, 2 of
them break. How many unbroken trains
does John have?
Step One: Explore
• Read the problem
• What do you know?
He has 10 trains
His parents gave him 5 trains
His aunt gave him 3 trains
2 trains broke
• What do you need to find out?
How many trains does he have that are
unbroken.
Step Two: Plan
• How can you solve the problem?
Add up the trains he has and that he was
given. Subtract the 2 trains that broke
from that total.
Step Three: Solve
• Solve the problem.
– What strategy did you use?
10 + 5 + 3 = 18 (total number given)
18 – 2 = 16
Step Four: Examine
• Re-read the problem.
• Does the answer make sense?
Yes, the answer make sense.
• Check your answer.
16 + 2 = 18
18 – 5 – 3 = 10 (The answer is correct
because the number
equals the number of
trains he had
originally.)
Let’s Practice!
Use the example problem below to help
me complete the graphic organizer and
solve the problem.
Billy read 3 books over the summer. Each
book took him 3 weeks to read. How many
weeks did it take Billy to read all 3 books?
Step One: Explore
• Read the problem
• What do you know?
• What do you need to find out?
Step Two: Plan
• How can you solve the problem?
Step Three: Solve
• Solve the problem.
Step Four: Examine
• Re-read the problem.
• Does the answer make sense?
• Check your answer.
Independent Practice
Work with your small group to solve the
problem below. Use the graphic organizer
in your blue folder to solve the problem.
Susan babysits for her neighbors. She
earns $10.00 for each hour she works. If
Susan worked 3 hours, how much
money did she make?
Step One: Explore
• Read the problem
• What do you know?
• What do you need to find out?
Step Two: Plan
• How can you solve the problem?
Step Three: Solve
• Solve the problem.
Step Four: Examine
• Re-read the problem.
• Does the answer make sense?
• Check your answer.