Problem Solving - Open School

Problem Solving

Survive Math 5

Problem Solving

| Survive Math 5

Problem Solving

? 2005 by Open School BC

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit

Acknowledgements

Project Manager: Eleanor Liddy Writer: Judy Hawkins and Margaret Stobie Editor: Cindy John Illustrator: Margaret Kernaghan Page Design: Janet Bartz Production Technician: Beverly Hooks

Course History

New, April 2005 Corrected, November 2006

Survive Math 5

Problem Solving

Table of Contents

Introduction

v

Lessons

1

Lesson 1: Developing a Problem Solving Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Lesson 2: Finding Facts and Placing Numbers in

Problem Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Lesson 3: Choosing the Correct Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Lesson 4: Clarifying the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Lesson 5: Too Many or Too Few Facts in Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Lesson 6: Eliminating Possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Lesson 7: Using "Guess and Test" Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Lesson 8: Estimating Answers to Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Lesson 9: Problem Solving: Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Lesson 10: Looking for Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Lesson 11: Problem Solving: Organizing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Lesson 12: Multi-step Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Lesson 13: Logical Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Lesson 14: Problems: Mass and Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Lesson 15: Problems: Time and Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Lesson 16: Problems Using Vertical and Horizontal Number Lines . . . . 71

Lesson 17: Puzzle Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Mastery Test

81

Lesson Practice Sheets

93

Games

169

Answer Key

177

| Survive Math 5

Problem Solving

iii

iv

| Problem Solving

Survive Math 5

Survive Math Five

The intent of this program is to assist you, the parent, in working with your child to develop a strong mathematical base of knowledge and to develop mathematic literacy.

Many children arrive in Grade Five lacking, or are weak in, basic mathematic concepts and operations. Children need the freedom to explore and to develop reasoning and mathematic skills, and to be able to show and explain these skills to others. Also, children should understand that mathematics is not just simple rules; it should make sense, be logical, and enjoyable.

To be successful in mathematics children must understand the "how" and "why" of each operation. A child's ability to reason is as valuable as her or his ability to find the correct answers.

It is important for children to use "manipulatives" (concrete objects) to explore, develop, and apply mathematical concepts. Before children are allowed to use a calculator as a tool they should learn and understand the basic facts.

The activities in this program are designed to engage your child's interest, develop a number sense, and learn the basic operations and concepts for:

? addition and subtraction ? multiplication and division ? fractions and decimals ? problem solving

At the completion of this program your child should be able to use the number operations appropriately and effectively.

| Survive Math 5

Problem Solving

v

In this package you will find: ? Twenty-minute lessons and ideas for review ? Mastery Test ? Practice Sheets ? Games ? Answer Key

In this package there is also a selection of Teaching Aids that are to be used with selected lessons.

Practice Sheets Each practice sheet contains the following sections:

? Warm-Up ? It's Your Turn

All of the activities in each section are short and, we hope, enjoyable.

Problem solving is the cornerstone of mathematics instruction. Your child must learn effective problem solving skills that include the ability to communicate solutions, so that she or he will become a reasoning, thinking person.

Problem solving requires mathematical thinking that should come naturally from day-to-day experiences. Your child should be able to explore, create, adjust to changes, and actively acquire new knowledge throughout her or his life.

Reading problems requires good vocabulary and comprehension skills. If your child is weak in these areas, read the problems with her or him.

It is important that your child understands the concept or skill covered in each lesson before you move to the next one. If your child has difficulty with any concept or skill, you will need to give her or him additional concrete "hands-on" experiences and practice. Use the information in the package as a guide if you need to develop further practice materials.

vi

| Problem Solving

Survive Math 5

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download