Word problems come to life when kids write their own problems and stage photos that illustrate them.
Objectives
Students will
practice reading and answering word problems as a class, in small groups, and on their own.
think about the ways in which, and the places where, they use math.
stage a photograph that illustrates one of the ways in which they use math.
write their own real-life word problems to accompany the photo.
Keywords
word, problem, math, photo, photograph, reality, real-life math
Materials Needed
camera (a digital camera is preferable; that way photographs can be downloaded and enlarged), but any camera will do
a collection of grade-appropriate math word problems from math texts, work sheet sources, and the like
Lesson Plan
Math word problems can be a difficult concept for many students to master. Why not add some fun to problem solving by having students write their own word problems? Increase the fun by adding a little theater! Bring word problems to life by challenging students to work together in pairs or small groups to stage photographs of real-life settings that involve math and to write word problems to go with the photographs.
This activity can help students who are visual learners grasp a math skill that is grounded in reading.
Prior to letting students go off on their own to write word problems, spend a couple of class sessions allowing students to practice reading and solving such problems as a class, in small-groups, and independently. Then spend another day writing word problems as a class and in small groups.
After students have had some focused practice with word problems, introduce this lesson, in which they work in pairs to think about where they encounter math in their lives. Begin by brainstorming a list of places in which they find math. (Provide a few of the ideas that follow to get them started.) Then encourage students to be creative as they find math in unusual places, dress themselves up, and stage photos...
If you have a digital camera, use it to take the photos, and then enlarge the photos to create vivid images. You might use student-written word problems as the focus of a Word Problems of the Week learning center in your classroom.
Some "Photograph Math" Photo Opportunities
Students might take a photo of a sign inside a local fast-food restaurant. Depending on their grade and skill levels, they could write problems that involve figuring the cost of different meals, change they would receive from a $10 bill, what they might buy if they only had $2 in their pockets, and so on.
A couple of kids might pose by a street sign that announces how many miles it is to neighboring towns and then create word problems to accompany the photo. Word problems could involve calculating mileage, distances between two points, how long it will take to get from place to place if they travel 35 miles per hour, and so on.
Kids might stand in mannequin-like poses as they model clothing with big price tags attached. Word problems challenge students to figure the cost of the outfits in different combinations, how much change they would get if they paid for a shirt with a $20 bill, how much sales tax would be added to an outfit in your locale, and so on.
Students might strategically locate large items -- such as a trash barrel, a bicycle, and a chair -- on the playground outside their classroom and then take a photo, enlarge it, and attach a scale that indicates (for example) that every inch on the photo equals 20 feet. The problem could ask students to figure out the distance between the trash barrel and the bicycle, whether the trash barrel is closer to the bicycle or the chair, how much closer one item is to another, and so on.
Students might dress up as characters from a book, TV show, or popular movie, pose themselves in a funny scene, and write problems that relate to the characters, the book, or the show.
The possibilities are limited only by the students’ (unlimited) imagination!
After pairs/groups have created their photos and word problems, encourage them to meet with another pair/group to critique each other’s efforts, test the word problems, and offer editing advice. Then the work will be ready for prime time! Create a class math book of word problems or set up a Word Problems of the Week learning center!
Assessment
Students will write in their journals what they learned from this activity; journal entries should include what they might do differently next time to improve on this first effort. Then, students might repeat the activity during the following semester, creating a whole new batch of "photograph math" word problems -- even better than their first efforts!
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Theatre GRADES K - 4 NA-T.K-4.3 Designing by Visualizing and Arranging Environments for Classroom Dramatizations NA-T.K-4.4 Directing By Planning Classroom Dramatizations GRADES 5 - 8 NA-T.5-8.3 Designing by Visualizing and Arranging Environments for Classroom Dramatizations NA-T.5-8.4 Directing By Planning Classroom Dramatizations GRADES 9 - 12 NA-T.9-12.3 Designing by Visualizing and Arranging Environments for Classroom Dramatizations NA-T.9-12.4 Directing By Planning Classroom Dramatizations
ARTS: Visual Arts GRADES K - 4 NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines GRADES 5 - 8 NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines GRADES 9 - 12 NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
MATHEMATICS: Number and Operations GRADES Pre-K - 2 NM-NUM.PK-2.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems GRADES 3 - 5 NM-NUM.3-5.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems GRADES 6 - 8 NM-NUM.6-8.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems GRADES 9 - 12 NM-NUM.9-12.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems
MATHEMATICS: Problem Solving GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-PROB.PK-12.1 Build New Mathematical Knowledge Through Problem Solving NM-PROB.PK-12.2 Solve Problems That Arise in Mathematics and in Other Contexts NM-PROB.PK-12.3 Apply and Adapt a Variety of Appropriate Strategies to Solve Problems NM-PROB.PK-12.4 Monitor and Reflect on the Process of Mathematical Problem Solving
MATHEMATICS: Communications GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-COMM.PK-12.2 Communicate Their Mathematical Thinking Coherently and Clearly to Peers, Teachers, and Others NM-COMM.PK-12.3 Analyze and Evaluate the Mathematical Thinking and Strategies of Other
MATHEMATICS: Connections GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-CONN.PK-12.2 Understand How Mathematical Ideas Interconnect and Build on One Another to Produce a Coherent Whole NM-CONN.PK-12.3 Recognize and Apply Mathematics in Contexts Outside of Mathematics
MATHEMATICS: Representation GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-REP.PK-12.1 Create and Use Representations to Organize, Record, and Communicate Mathematical Ideas NM-REP.PK-12.3 Use Representations to Model and Interpret Physical, Social, and Mathematical Phenomena
TECHNOLOGY GRADES K - 12 NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts NT.K-12.4 Technology Communications tools NT.K-12.5 Technology Research tools NT.K-12.6 Technology Problem-Solving and Decision-Making tools
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