Numberless Word Problems

Grade 3 Mathematics
Numberless Word Problems

This activity primarily supports standard 1.OA.1., 1.OA.2, 2.OA.1, 3.OA.3, 3.OA.8, 4.OA.2, and 4.OA.3.  Word problems involve different story structures or problem situations.  Numberless Word Problems are designed to provide scaffolding that allows students the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the underlying structure of word problems.  

Originally developed by Brian Bushart, the powerpoint resources below address addition and subtraction problem types.  Each problem type, for example,  Join - Result Unknown, contains ten numberless word problems.  Teachers may choose to develop one problem type or use a combination of problem types (Separate - Change Unknown, Part-Part-Whole - Part Unknown) during one given week. numbers

Powerpoint Slide Decks for Numberless Word Problems Links to an external site.

 Some key questions include:

  • What do you notice?
  • What do you wonder?
  • How does the new information change or support your thinking?
  • What questions could be asked?

 

 *NEW* Additional examples appropriate for 3rd grade:

  • A man bought some sheep. If you know how much he paid and how many sheep he bought, how can you find the price of one sheep?
  • If I tell you the weight of a wagon when loaded with corn and the weight of the empty wagon, what will you do to find the weight of the corn?
  • A boy buys a sled; if you know how much money he now has and how much he had at first, how will you find the price of the sled?
  • If you know the number of square feet in a floor and the length of it, how can you find the width?
  • Two farms are of the same size; one is square, the other is four times as long as it is wide. Which will require more fence to enclose it, and how much more?
  • In a box of marbles some are red, some white, and the others blue. If you are told the total number and you are told the sum of the red and the white, what will you do to find the number of blue marbles?
  • Some horses and chickens are in a barn; the total number of heads and wings equals the number of feet. How many horses and how many chickens are there?
  • If I know the number of rows of trees in a square orchard and the total number of trees, how can I find the number in each row?

 

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