Five pages of story problems that take more than one step. Page 1 adds and subtracts: in the first three problems the strip diagram is drawn for you with a letter for the unknown, such as 2,350 + 480 − 615 = b; in the last two, about a fair and a stadium, students draw the diagram themselves. Page 2 multiplies and divides with equal groups and times as many: students write the numbers into the diagram (a mother dog that weighs 4 times as much as her puppy), write the equation and solve, then draw two diagrams of their own. Page 3 circles the one equation of three that matches a story, then writes and solves equations with the letter at the start (p − 46 + 28 = 175), inside or after the equal sign. Page 4 decides whether a question needs an estimate or an exact answer and answers it, tells whether 6 × 48 is closer to 240 or 300 before working it out, and estimates to check whether an answer someone gives is reasonable. Page 5 has three-step problems with 5th grade numbers: buses, change from $400, full egg cartons and tins, each with an estimate first and a remainder or money to think about.
Read one problem from page 1 aloud and build the strip diagram on the board together: what do we know, and where does the letter go? Ask two students to write different equations for the same diagram (1,850 + 1,275 + p = 4,200 and 4,200 − 1,850 − 1,275 = p) and talk about why both are right. On page 4, have partners argue for Estimate or Exact before anyone works anything out. On page 5, compare each answer with the estimate and ask whether it makes sense.
Turn errands into two-step problems: we have $40, we buy 3 shirts for $9 each, how much is left? Ask your child to draw a strip diagram and write an equation with a letter before working it out. When you shop, ask whether an estimate is enough (do we have enough money?) or you need the exact amount (how much change?).
This pack supports the following Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:
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A 5-page multi-step word problems pack for 4th and 5th grade. Solve two-step story problems with strip diagrams, adding and subtracting numbers up to the hundred thousands, then multiplying and dividing with equal groups and times as many, and write an equation with a letter for the unknown. Pick the equation that matches a story, then write and solve equations with the letter at the start, in the middle or after the equal sign. Decide whether a question needs an estimate or an exact answer, tell which number a sum or product is closer to, and estimate to check whether an answer is reasonable. Finish with three-step problems with money and remainders to interpret. Every page comes in color and in black and white. Answer keys included.
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