Bar

Models
Teaching 3rd-5th Grade
 Why do we teach bar models?
Singapore Math: Simple or Complex; http://nychold.com/art-hoven-el-0711.pdf
Singapore Math Methods are mainly focused on conceptual understanding and once
students understand how bar models can be used to solve problems, it opens a world
of possibilities for them. Although it is deceptively simple, students have a low floor
and high ceiling for access to bar models and problem solving methods.

The Use of Bar Model Drawing to Teach Word Problem Solving to Students with
Mathematics Difficulties;
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0731948717690116
“Results showed that bar modeling drawn is an effective strategy for increasing
elementary students accuracy in solving math word problems and their ability to use
cognitive strategies to solve the problems.”
 TYPES OF BAR MODELS

Discrete Continuous
One to one correspondence Divided into different units

D D D T T 153 74

Roberta had 3 daffodils and 2 tulips Roberta had 153 daffodils and
74 tulips
 STEP-BY-STEP

1 2 3

Read Draw Solve

Read the entire problem, Draw what you know Fill in the blanks, what
underline or circle facts and put a question mark can you solve and
that you know. at the question compute the solution
Discrete Jayne planted 3 banana trees and 4
Model
apple trees. How many trees did Jayne
plant?

OR
Continuous One bag had 47 beans. Another bag
Model
had 125 beans. How many beans were
there in total?

47 125

OR
47

125
 Read STEP-BY-STEP
Read the entire problem,
A total of 123 people attended a concert on Friday
underline or circle facts
that you know. night, 200 attended on Saturday night, and 32
attended on Sunday afternoon. How many total
people attended the concert?
Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP
Read the entire problem,
underline or circle facts A total of 438 people were at the concert. There were 213
that you know. children and the rest were adults. How many adults were at
the concert?

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP
Read the entire problem,
Angela has $45. Tyler has $28. How much more money does Angela
underline or circle facts have than Tyler?
that you know.

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP
Read the entire problem, Ling put 3 photos on each page of her album. If there were 6
underline or circle facts pages, how many photos did Ling put in her album?
that you know.

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP Multiplication

Read the entire problem, Annette and Julio did jumping jacks. Annette did 8 jumping
underline or circle facts jacks. Julio did 4 times as many jumping jacks as Annette.
that you know. How many jumping jacks did Annette and Julio do altogether?

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP Division

Read the entire problem, Mr Thomas is finding drivers to take 17 of his students on a field
underline or circle facts trip. If only 4 students can ride in each car, how many cars will Mr.
that you know. Thomas need?

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP Fractions

Read the entire problem,

A pie was cut into 12 equal pieces. Luke ate ⅓ of the pie.
underline or circle facts
How many pieces were left?
that you know.

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP Bridge to Algebra

Read the entire problem, Together, Jasmine and Laura earned a total of $64 washing
underline or circle facts cars. If Jasmine earned $14 more than Laura, how much
that you know. money did each girl earn?

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP Bridge to Algebra

Read the entire problem, Maria rented 2 video games and 3 DVD’s for a total of $23.
underline or circle facts Each video game cost $1.50 more to rent than each DVD.
that you know. What was the cost of renting the DVD’s?

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 Read STEP-BY-STEP
Read the entire problem,
underline or circle facts
that you know.

Draw
Draw what you know
and put a question mark
at the question

Solve
Fill in the blanks, what
can you solve and
compute the solution
 SUPPORT STRATEGIES

● Use smaller numbers

●
● Demonstrate using only one type of bar model
●
● Highlight parts of the problem with important information
●
● Provide a blank bar model to students to fill in
 EXTENSION STRATEGIES

● Ask more questions. Looking at the bar model, what other questions
can be asked?
●
● Provide an empty bar model and have students create their own
questions
●
● Work backwards from a bar model that only includes a solution
● Add to the story