Grades 3-5 Math Problem Solving in Action_ Getting Students to Love Word Problems

Problem Types Across the Curriculum ◆ 51

Figure 3.18

At the candy store, they sold 500 grams of chocolate for $2. Marcos

bought 3 kilos of chocolate for a party. How much money did he spend?

Here is a great problem that gets students to reason about mass (see
Figure^ 3.19). One way to get students to reason about mass and weight
is to bring in objects and weigh them and discuss the units. Also, have
students cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers and circulars and
have them write about those items. Have students write photo essays
where they have to discuss the measurements of animals or whatever
interests them. One thing about measurement problems is that students
need benchmarks. So, you should talk about some of the major bench-
marks, like a math textbook weighs a kilo, an average adult weighs around
100 kilos or a paper clip weighs about a^ gram.

Joe and Kylie were estimating the weight of the baby elephant that

they saw at the zoo. Joe said that it weighed about 100 kilos. Kylie

said she thinks it weighs about 200 grams. Who do you think has the

best estimate, and why?

Figure 3.19

More Measurement Problems, Drawings and Sketches

When working with capacity problems, students should actually measure
out amounts. They should use and then make drawings of cups, bottles
and beakers to solve problems (see Figure 3.20). The problems should
involve the different operations and one or two steps. Students own the
understanding of these problems when they do them.