Two-Step Word Problems with

Mixed Operations - Gamified!

Third Grade Math

by M Knutson April 13, 2017

Students will have fun learning the Read, Draw, Write (RDW) strategy on two-step, mixed operation problems.
First they will learn RDW, and then they will practice it in a game called Four in a Row.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to solve two-step, mixed operation word problems using the Read, Draw, Write (RDW)
strategy.

Materials and preparation

Class set of the Word Problem Solving Template

- Read, Draw, Write worksheet
Class set of the Four in a Row Game - Practice
Two-Step Word Problems with Mixed Operations
worksheet
Scissors

Attachments

Word Problem Solving Template - Read, Draw, Write (PDF)

Four in a Row Game - Practice Two-Step Word Problems with Mixed Operations (PDF)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Ask students if they have ever played Connect Four. Ask for student volunteers to summarize the rules
and object of the game.
Tell students that after learning the Read, Draw, Write (RDW) strategy for solving word problems, they
will practice by playing a game that is a cross between tic-tac-toe and Connect Four.
EL

Beginning

Allow students to discuss the games in their home language (L1) or new language (L2).

Intermediate

Provide visuals to accompany the names of the games.

Label the games with their names in students' home languages (L1).

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (5 minutes)

Write 'Read, Draw, Write' on the board, writing the first letters with a different color.
Tell students that the RDW process is a strategy to help them solve word problems.
Ask students to predict what each step means, then finish the phrases: Read the problem, draw and label
a model to help you solve, and write the solution in a number sentence and a word sentence.

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EL

Beginning

Provide a RDW process chart with visuals for students.

Have students jot notes in their L1, if possible, to help them understand each of the strategy steps.

Intermediate

Share a student-friendly definition of the word strategy.

Provide a sentence stem for students to use as they predict what each step of the RDW strategy means,
such as: I think that step is...

Guided Practice (5 minutes)

Model the RDW process using the first problem from the Word Problem Solving Template - Read, Draw,
Write worksheet, using the model shown or creating your own. Note that the problems use mixed
operations and have two steps.
Distribute that worksheet to your students and do the remaining problems together, answering questions
along the way.
EL

Beginning

Allow students to use reference materials in their L1 to look up anu unfamiliar words in the word
problems.

Intermediate

Ask students to share their process with a partner and then the whole group.

Independent working time (30 minutes)

Distribute the Four in a Row Game - Practice Two-Step Word Problems with Mixed Operations worksheet.
Review the instructions.
Put students in pairs and distribute the game board and set of questions to each pair.
To verify the correctness of student answers while playing, you can either distribute the answer sheet for
them to check each other or have students check with you (or another member of the class) who has the
answers. Questions and answers are numbered.
EL

Beginning

Invite students to work in a small, teacher-led group.

Ask questions that get the students talking about the RDW strategy. (i.e. What did you draw? How did
you create a number sentence?) Provide sentence stems to support them as they answer the questions.

Intermediate

Pair students with supportive peers or another student with the same L1, if possible.

Related books and/or media

Find interactive books for each child’s level.

Differentiation

Support:

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 Make a guide with examples of different kinds of models to solve word problems (tape diagrams, number
bonds, area models, number lines, etc.) and allow students to use it as a reference.

Enrichment:

Have students create more cards by writing additional two-step word problems using three-digit
numbers.

Assessment (10 minutes)

On the back of one of their sheets, have students solve one of the problems from the game, projected for
all to see or written on the board. Demonstrate the solution and spot check student work for the accurate
solution.
EL

Beginning

Have students share a solution to one of the problems from the game with a partner. Have them explain
their thinking with the following sentence stem: "I know this is correct because ____."

Intermediate

Ask students to share whether they agree or disagree with the student's solution to the problem on the
board. Provide a sentence stem to support them, such as "I agree/disagree because ____."

Review and closing (5 minutes)

Discuss, "How might the RDW strategy be helpful when solving more challenging word problems?" Take
student responses.
EL

Beginning

Have students turn and talk to a partner about their answer before sharing with the whole group.

Intermediate

Provide a sentence stem for students to use when sharing, such as "The RDW strategy might be helpful
by ____."

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Word Problem Solving Template: Read-Draw-Write (RDW)
Name: Date:

Examine the example in the first problem, noting how the information in the problem is drawn and labeled. Then notice
how the calculation is represented in a number sentence and the solution is stated in a word sentence. Complete the
remaining problems on your own using the RDW strategy.

Example:
Write Number Write Word
Read the Problem Draw and Label Sentence Sentence

Gian is at the corner $2 x 4 friends = $8 Gian will get back

store buying one con-
tainer of slime for each $8 $20 - $8 = $12 $12 in change from
of his four friends. Each the store clerk.
container costs $2.00.
1 10
He gives the clerk a 20
twenty dollar bill. How - 8
much will he get back?
12

Write Number Write Word

Read the Problem Draw and Label Sentence Sentence

There were six pairs of

socks in Evalyse’s drawer.
There are two socks in
one pair. Her brother
borrowed three pair to
put on his stuffed animals.
How many socks are in
her drawer now?

There were three

cartons of one dozen
eggs in the refrigerator.
Joaquin’s dad used one
dozen to make deviled
eggs for brunch. How
many eggs are left in the
refrigerator?

Luca’s family owns 5

bicycles. Two of the
bicycles each have a flat
tire. How many tires are
not flat?

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 Four in a Row Game:
Practice Step Word Problems with Mixed Operations
Name: Date:

1. With your partner, decide who will be X and who will be O.

2. Cut out the problem cards and put them in a pile, blank side facing up.
3. Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who starts.
4. Correctly solve the word problem in a complete sentence to place an X or O on the grid, starting on the bottom row
and stacking them up from there, like Connect Four. Check each other’s answers for accuracy using the key.
5. The first player to get four in a row wins.

Start adding X’s and O’s at the bottom and move up like in Connect Four.

Player must say the answer in a complete sentence with the units.
(1) 16, (2) 15, (3) 6, (4) 10, (5) 36, (6) 24, (7) 72, (8) 20, (9) 10, (10) 22, (11) 40,
(12) 23, (13) 15, (14) 5, (15) 27, (16) 6, (17) 3, (18) 81, (19) 16, (20) 40.

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 Four in a Row Game:
Practice Step Word Problems with Mixed Operations

3. Ella had 40 cupcakes

1. Akram had 4 boxes 2. Diego had 25 boxes 4. Pepukai is three
for her birthday. She
of 12 crayons. He had filled equally with years younger than
passed out 18 to her
to share them with stuffed animals. There his sister. His sister is
math class and 16 to
two other students. were 5 in each box. going to be 15 in
her art class. How
How many did each How many stuffed two years. How old
many did she have left
student get? animals were in three is Pepukai?
to give to teachers?
of the boxes?

5. Ed ordered 2 large 6. Margo filled 8 water 7. Cole made 5 8. Raoul filled shelves
pizzas and 2 medium. glasses with ice cubes, necklaces for his mom with books. The 2nd
There are 10 slices in 4 cubes per glass. She with 12 sea shells on shelf had 5 more than
a large, and 8 slices in spilled two glasses on each. Then his sister the 1st. The 1st shelf had
a medium. How many the floor. How many wanted one. How 7 fiction and 8 non-fic-
slices were there in cubes were left in the many shells did he tion books. How many
all? glasses? use in all? were on the 2nd shelf?

9. Madison has three 11. Tatum drove

10. Delaney gave 12. Ingrid went to two
bunnies. The first had three packs of gum to 60 miles to a hot
movies. Each movie
6 babies. The second a friend. Each pack spring. She stopped at
cost $7.50 and she also
had twice that had 10 pieces. Her the gas station when
got popcorn for $5.50
amount. The third had friend ate 8 pieces at she was 1/3 of the way
and Ju-Jubees for
two fewer bunnies there. How many more
once. How many $2.50. How much did
than the second one. miles did she have left
were left? she spend?
to go?

16. Hillary wrote 24

14. Beyoncé wants to
13. Each of the 15. William hit 12 letters to the president.
make 3 quarts of slime.
5 couches at homeruns last season. Half of the letters were
One quart requires 15
Miranda’s house has Andrea hit three more complaints, but half of
drops of food coloring.
6 cushions. Half of than double that those complaints got
She has 50 drops all
them are blue. How amount? How many lost in the mail. How
together. How many
many are not blue? did she hit? many complaints arrived
drops will be left over?
at the White House?

17. Ms. Smith has 28 19. Frank got sent to the 20. Ariana threw 5
18. Each of 7 snowballs at her brother
students. She puts their principal’s office 2 times
lime trees has 12 every day of the week.
desks in 7 equal sized a month during the 9
mangos on it. James And in return, each day
groups. One of the months of the school
picked them all but he threw double that
desks in a group is year. That is two more
ate three on the way back at her. How many
broken. How many in than Julie got sent last
home. How many are did he throw in one
that group are year. How many did
left? month?
functional? Julie go last year?

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