Model Drawing Steps

  1. Read the problem.
  1. Read the problem again leaving out the numbers. Focus on what it is asking you to do.
  1. Rewrite the question in sentence form. Leave a blank where the answer should go.
  1. List your variables:Whoorwhatis involved in the story?
  1. Make unit boxes for each variable.
  1. Checkoff that you did that part of the problem in the word problem itself.
  1. Put aquestion markby what you want to find out.
  1. Compute: Use the unit boxes to write anumber sentence.
  1. Solvethe problem. Put a box around the answer.
  1. Write the answer in the blankof the sentence you wrote in step 3.
  1. Rereadthe sentence to see if it makes sense!

Model Drawing

Sample Problem

Addition

John collected 6 rocks. Owen collected 4 rocks. How many rocks did they collect in all?

Question written in sentence form:

John and Hannah collected _____ rocks in all.

Variables:

John’s rocks

Owen’s rocks

Number Sentence:

6 + 4 = 10

Model Drawing

Sample Problem

Subtraction

Hannah collected 6 rocks. Faith collected 4 rocks. How many more rocks did Hannah collect?

Question written in sentence form:

Hannah collected _____ more rocks than Faith.

Variables:

Hannah’s rocks

Faith’s rocks

Number Sentence:

6 – 4 = 2

Friday, April 6, 2012

Dear Parents,

In math we will be teaching the students a method to solve word problems called “Model Drawing”. This is a very systematic approach to solving these types of problems. In the beginning, the problems will seem quite simple and the students may know the answer without having to go through all of these steps. However, right now we are teaching them a process so that as the problems get more difficult, they will know what to do.

You may notice on some assignments that a student will get an answer correct but not get full credit. This is because the points are earned by following all parts of the process.

I am sending home copies of the steps involved in model drawing so that you may help guide your child in learning these problem-solving techniques.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Mrs. Goheen