Considerations: Students need to be exposed to many ways to represent the unknown (empty box, letters, and symbols). This type of word problem can be solved as a subtraction equation or a missing addend equation.
Steps: 1. Listen carefully to the numbers in the word problem. 2. Use the numbers to write an equation using a symbol or letter to represent the unknown. 3. Solve for the unknown.
Application of MPs: MP2: What math symbol can you use today? MP6: How do you know your answers are correct? MP7: What steps help you solve the problems?
/ *MP1: Make sense of the problem and persevere in solving it! *MP8: Find a strategy to help solve the problem. Directions: Use drawings and equations to solve for the unknown.
1. Oliver threw 8 snowballs. Gabriel threw 11 snowballs. How many fewer snowballs did Oliver throw than Gabriel? Drawings:
Equation
= 2. Lillian has 16 balloons. Daniel has 9 balloons. How many fewer balloons does Daniel have than Lillian? Drawings:
*MP6: How do you know your answers are correct/reasonable?
Recap today’s lesson with one or more of the following MP questions: MP2: What math symbol did you use today? MP6: How did you know your answers were correct? MP7: What steps helped you solve the problems?
Directions: Use drawings and equations to solve for the unknown.
5. Can = 12? If not, solve for the unknown. Sammy has 8 stuffed animals. Avery has 4 stuffed animals. How many fewer stuffed animals does Avery have than Sammy?
= 12 Yes
No
Equation
=
6. Choose numbers to complete the word problem. Fill in all the blanks. Solve for the unknown.