Making Sense of Problems · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Think, Then Solve

Mathematics · Mathematical Thinking · ages 5-6
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. 6 birds sit. 2 fly away. How many birds are left?

    Answer: ______________

  2. A problem says: 6 birds sit, 2 fly away, how many are left? The question asks how many stayed. Is that right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  3. Emma has 4 apples. Sam gives her 2 more. What is the problem asking you to find?

    • How many apples there are now
    • How many apples Sam has
    • How many apples are left

  4. After you find an answer, it is a good idea to check it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. Zoe counts 6 shells and says the answer is 6. What should she do next?

    • Throw the shells away
    • Count the shells again to check
    • Stop and do nothing else

  6. 9 - 7 = 2. Which check proves it?

    • 2 + 9 = 7
    • 9 + 7 = 2
    • 7 - 2 = 9
    • 2 + 7 = 9

  7. 4 fish join 3 fish. How many fish in total?

    Answer: ______________

  8. Leo has 5 blocks. He gives 2 blocks away. What is the question asking?

    • How many blocks his friend has
    • What color the blocks are
    • How many blocks Leo has left

  9. Sam sees a problem about apples and pears. He starts adding numbers right away, without reading what it asks. What should Sam do first?

    • Erase the whole problem
    • Keep adding numbers fast
    • Stop and think about what the problem asks

  10. After taking away, your answer is bigger than what you started with. Something must be wrong. Is that right?

    Circle one:   True   False

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Answer key

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

Think, Then Solve W1-mt_WkKkb7W9Qd-s1

  1. 4 · 6 take away 2 leaves 4 birds.
  2. True · Right. Left asks for the stayers: 4.
  3. How many apples there are now · The question asks for the total number of apples now.
  4. True · Checking helps make sure your answer makes sense.
  5. Count the shells again to check · Counting again helps Zoe make sure 6 is correct.
  6. 2 + 7 = 9 · 2 plus 7 returns 9, proving the take away.
  7. 7 · 4 plus 3 is 7 fish.
  8. How many blocks Leo has left · The question wants to know how many blocks remain with Leo.
  9. Stop and think about what the problem asks · Understanding the question first helps Sam solve it the right way.
  10. True · Right. Taking away must shrink the pile.
Worksheet · LightMySky