Guided Multi-Step Problem Solving · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Solving problems step by step

Mathematics · Mathematical Thinking · ages 6-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. First you try cubes and get stuck. What should you do?

    • stop and guess
    • copy a friend
    • leave it blank
    • try a number line or drawing

  2. Leo has 6 marbles. He gets 4 more. Then he loses 2. What is the problem asking you to find?

    • How many marbles Leo has now
    • How many marbles Leo lost
    • How many marbles his friend has

  3. True or false: if your first strategy does not work, you should give up on the problem.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Ana has 9 crayons. Her brother gives her 3 more. What do you already know from the problem?

    • Ana has 20 crayons total
    • 9 at first, then 3 more
    • Ana gave away 3 crayons

  5. There are 18 apples. 6 are eaten, then 4 more are picked. How many now?

    Answer: ______________

  6. Dan says to check 13 plus 7 equals 20 by doing 20 take away 7. Is that smart?

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. You have 12 stickers. You get 5 more, then give 3 away. How many are left?

    Answer: ______________

  8. You score 9 then 8 then lose 5. What is your final score?

    Answer: ______________

  9. Priya says, 'The problem asks how many apples are left, so I added all the numbers together.' What might be wrong with her plan?

    • Her plan is correct
    • Adding might not be the right operation for a 'how many are left' question
    • She read the numbers wrong

  10. There are 30 children. 12 go home, then 5 more arrive. How many stay?

    Answer: ______________

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Solving problems step by step W1-mt_O_UOTiMvT_-s1

  1. try a number line or drawing · Switching tools often unlocks the problem.
  2. How many marbles Leo has now · The question asks for Leo's total now, after both the gain and the loss.
  3. False · You can switch to another strategy, like drawing it out or using a number line.
  4. 9 at first, then 3 more · The known facts are the starting amount and how many more she got.
  5. 16 · 18 minus 6 is 12, plus 4 is 16.
  6. True · Inverse check proves the sum.
  7. 14 · 12 plus 5 is 17, minus 3 is 14.
  8. 12 · 9 plus 8 is 17, minus 5 is 12.
  9. Adding might not be the right operation for a 'how many are left' question · 'How many are left' usually means something was taken away, so subtraction fits better than adding.
  10. 23 · 30 minus 12 is 18, plus 5 is 23.
Worksheet · LightMySky