Title:

Grade:
Introduction to Problem Solving
First Grade
Subject:
Designer:
Math
Samantha Riddle
Stage 1 Desired Results
Essential Understanding: There are 3 steps that you must complete when solving a story problem.
Essential Questions:
How do you draw a math picture?
What does a number sentence look like?
How do you write your answer?
Understandings:
The student will demonstrate and understanding of equality through use of the equal sign.
[VA SOL M 1.18]
The student will recall basic addition facts with sums to 18 or less and the corresponding subtraction
facts.
[VA SOL M 1.5]
The student will create and solve one-step story and picture problems using basic addition with sums
to 18 or less.
[VA SOL M 1.6]
The student will
Count from 0 to 100 and write the corresponding numerals
[VA SOL M 1.1 A]
Stage 2 Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
Other Evidence:
Students will be observed performing story
Problem solving will be done as a
problems every Friday. Growth should be
full class. Problems will be
evident in mathematical thinking and problem
differentiated based on ability.
solving skills.
All students should complete the
How do students approach, model, and solve the
three steps in order to correctly
problem? How do they record their work? Are
complete the problem.
students able to follow the 3 steps of problem
solving correctly?
Stage 3 Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
Ask students if they have ever solved story or word problems before.
Give them a quick example of what a story problem might look like
o Ex. Mrs. Jackson finds three ducks on the floor, she finds two more on the desk. How
many does she find in all?
Explain that there are three steps that they must complete each time they solve a word
problem. Show them the poster with the three steps.
Draw a picture
o Reiterate that this is a math picture, and should not be an art picture. Draw a few
examples of stick figures, stars, dots, etc.
Write a number sentence
o Students have been working on number sentence, so they should be familiar with this
step.
Write a word sentence with your answer
o For example, a word sentence would be I have? ducks in all, or there are ? ducks total,

or there are ? ducks left. Explain that they should spell the best they can, but not
stress too much about it.
Solve the following word problem step by step together as a group:
o Leah and Mark are in art class together. Mark has 3 crayons, and Leah has 2 crayons.
How many crayons do they have all together?
Explain that if students are unsure of the answer, they can use their picture to count.
Once we have discussed the answer, and students are comfortable with the process they will
solve the following problem independently:
o Sam went to the zoo. He saw 3 monkeys in a tree. He saw 5 more on the ground.
How many monkeys did Sam see?

Materials:
White boards
Expo markers
Problem solving poster

3 Steps of Problem Solving

1. Draw a picture (not an art class picture)

2. Write a number sentence

2+1=3

3-1=2

3. Write a word sentence with your answer

There are four crayons in all.
There are five cats left.
There are three ducks total.