Learning topic
Problem Solving
Fix habits such as grabbing numbers without understanding the question.
Guides in this topic
- Act it out strategy 1 guide Use movement or objects to model a problem.
- Always sometimes never questions 1 guide Encourage reasoning with statements that may or may not be true.
- Bar model problem solving 1 guide Use bars to represent parts, wholes and comparisons.
- Checking if an answer is reasonable 1 guide Use estimates, inverse operations and context.
- Convince me maths prompts 1 guide Ask children to prove, explain or justify a claim.
- Data investigations 1 guide Ask a question, collect data, represent it and explain findings.
- Draw a picture strategy 1 guide Turn a word problem into a diagram or simple sketch.
- Estimation before calculation 1 guide Predict a sensible answer before solving exactly.
- Find a pattern strategy 1 guide Look for repeated structure to solve a problem.
- Guess check and improve 1 guide Use sensible guesses, testing and refinement.
- How to solve maths word problems 1 guide Read, represent, calculate, check and explain.
- Logical reasoning puzzles 1 guide Solve puzzles by using clues, elimination and deduction.
- Low floor high ceiling tasks 1 guide Design tasks that everyone can start and many can extend.
- Make a table strategy 1 guide Organise possibilities systematically in rows and columns.
- Maths investigation starters 1 guide Open-ended tasks that invite children to notice, wonder and explain.
- Maths vocabulary in word problems 1 guide Identify language that signals comparison, total, difference, groups or sharing.
- Multi-step word problems 1 guide Break problems into smaller steps and keep track of information.
- Non-routine problems 1 guide Build resilience with unfamiliar problems that need strategy.
- Number line problem solving 1 guide Use jumps and distances to reason about calculations.
- Open middle problems 1 guide Solve problems with constraints and more than one possible route.
- Polya's problem-solving steps for children 1 guide Understand the problem, make a plan, carry it out and look back.
- Problem-solving for pairs and groups 1 guide Use roles, discussion and shared recording to solve together.
- Problem-solving misconceptions 1 guide Fix habits such as grabbing numbers without understanding the question.
- Reading maths carefully 1 guide Teach children to notice units, key information and hidden traps.
- RUCSAC problem-solving method 1 guide Use Read, Understand, Choose, Solve, Answer and Check carefully.
- Same answer different question 1 guide Find many expressions or problems with the same answer.
- Spot the mistake tasks 1 guide Use incorrect solutions as a safe way to develop reasoning.
- Systematic listing 1 guide List possibilities without missing or repeating any.
- Weather data projects 1 guide Record temperature, rainfall and sunshine over time.
- Which one doesn't belong 1 guide Compare numbers, shapes or expressions and justify different answers.
- Work backwards strategy 1 guide Start from the final result and reverse the steps.
- Writing maths explanations 1 guide Use because, therefore and diagrams to communicate reasoning.
