Five pages that turn story problems around: students write the story. On page 1 a picture shows two groups, such as 5 apples and 3 more; students write an adding story about it, then the number sentence and the answer. Page 2 shows a group with some crossed out, for a take-away story. Page 3 gives a number sentence (12 − 5 = □) and a picture of what the story could be about. Page 4 gives the start of a story and students write the question, such as "How many owls are in the tree now?" Page 5 asks for stories of their own: one where more come, one where some go away, one that compares, to trade with a friend. Each of pages 1 to 4 starts with a worked example, and the answer keys show a sample story for each; any story that fits is right.
Write one class story together for the first picture, with students suggesting the names and the things. Ask: what is the question? Is it adding or taking away? On page 5, collect the stories into a class book of word problems for the next math center.
Take turns: you tell a story with numbers, your child tells the question, then switch. Let your child say the story aloud before writing it, and help with spelling the names and things.
This pack supports the following Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:
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Story problems turned around, so students write the story. They write adding and take-away stories for pictures and number sentences, finish stories with a question, and make their own to trade with a friend.
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