2nd & 3 rd Grade

PURPOSEFUL
Problem
Solving
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Ideas for the Classroom

Word
problem sets
can be used
whole group
to model
problem
solving
strategies.

Word
problem sets
can be used
as a method
of
intervention
during small
group
instruction.
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Ideas for the Classroom

A few word
problems
can be given
at one time
as morning
work or a
daily math
warm-up.

Single word
problems can be
used during the
writing block.
Students first
solve the
problems and
then must explain
their thinking and
the steps they
followed to solve
the problem in a
short paragraph..
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Ideas for the Classroom

Word
problem sets
can be hung
on command
hooks to be
used as
enrichment
for early
finishers.

Word
problem sets
with QR
codes can be
set up as a
purposeful
self check
math station
or center.
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Ideas for the Classroom

The Snip and

Solve response
sheet is a
great way to
add kinesthetic
learning to you
math time.

Problems can
be selected on
an individual
basis as a
means of
differentiated
assessment.
Jenny went outside to look for
insects. She found 12 ladybugs, 13
grasshoppers, and 9 bumble bees.
How many insects did she find in all?

Last week, 435 students brought a

kite to school for kite day. 127 kids
forgot their kite at home. How many
more kids remembered to bring their
kite for kite day?

The students in Mrs. John’s class wanted to

catch 84 ladybugs for their ladybug garden.
On Thursday, they caught 12 ladybugs. On
Friday, they caught 19 ladybugs and 2
grasshoppers. How many more ladybugs do
they need to catch?

Will has $4.00. He wants to buy

a bucket of worms for $2.95
and a new fishing hook for $1.50.
Does he have enough money to
buy these two things?
Zane caught 15 fireflies in a jar.
Emily and Sara each caught 17
fireflies. How many fireflies did the
three children catch in all?

Lily and her four ladybug friends each

have 7 black spots. How many spots
do Lily and her friends have all
together?

The students in Mr. Horton’s class were collecting

flower petals for an art project. On Monday, they
collected 76 flower petals. On Tuesday, they
collected 45 flower petals. On Wednesday, they
collected 58 flower petals. How many more petals
did they collect on Monday than on Wednesday?

Marissa buys her mom

two flowers that cost
$1.25 each. She pays with a
$5 bill. How much change
does Marissa get back?
There were 52 carrots in Amy’s garden
before the rabbits ate 18 of them. If
Amy needed 50 carrots to make soup,
how many more carrots does she now
need?

Chris counted 654 ants on Monday

afternoon. On Tuesday, Chris
counted 249 ants. How many ants
did Chris count on the two days?

If a bee visited 8 flowers in one

hour, how many flowers could
the bee visit in 4 hours?

Each rose in Katy’s garden

has 12 petals. How many
roses would Katy need to
pick if she wanted 60
petals?
A butterfly farm in Florida had 308
butterflies. A hurricane damaged the
building and some butterflies escaped.
After the storm, 269 butterflies
remained. How many butterflies escaped?

A mockingbird eats 45
worms per day. How many
worms would a mocking
bird eat in three days?

Molly planted three daisy seeds in five

different pots. All of the seeds sprouted
but 6 died a week later because Molly
forgot to water them. How many
flowers did Molly have left?

Mr. Jones has 18 carrots, 15

potatoes, 24 peppers, and 9
cucumbers in his garden.
Which two vegetables does Mr.
Jones have exactly 24 of?
Jenny went outside to look for
insects. She found 12 ladybugs, 13
grasshoppers, and 9 bumble bees.
How many insects did she find in all?

Last week, 435 students brought a

kite to school for kite day. 127 kids
forgot their kite at home. How many
more kids remembered to bring their
kite for kite day?

The students in Mrs. John’s class wanted to

catch 84 ladybugs for their ladybug garden.
On Thursday, they caught 12 ladybugs. On
Friday, they caught 19 ladybugs and 2
grasshoppers. How many more ladybugs do
they need to catch?

Will has $4.00. He wants to buy

a bucket of worms for $2.95
and a new fishing hook for $1.50.
Does he have enough money to
buy these two things?
Zane caught 15 fireflies in a jar.
Emily and Sara each caught 17
fireflies. How many fireflies did the
three children catch in all?

Lily and her four ladybug friends each

have 7 black spots. How many spots
do Lily and her friends have all
together?

The students in Mr. Horton’s class were collecting

flower petals for an art project. On Monday, they
collected 76 flower petals. On Tuesday, they
collected 45 flower petals. On Wednesday, they
collected 58 flower petals. How many more petals
did they collect on Monday than on Wednesday?

Marissa buys her mom

two flowers that cost
$1.25 each. She pays with a
$5 bill. How much change
does Marissa get back?
There were 52 carrots in Amy’s garden
before the rabbits ate 18 of them. If
Amy needed 50 carrots to make soup,
how many more carrots does she now
need?

Chris counted 654 ants on Monday

afternoon. On Tuesday, Chris
counted 249 ants. How many ants
did Chris count on the two days?

If a bee visited 8 flowers in one

hour, how many flowers could
the bee visit in 4 hours?

Each rose in Katy’s garden

has 12 petals. How many
roses would Katy need to
pick if she wanted 60
petals?
A butterfly farm in Florida had 308
butterflies. A hurricane damaged the
building and some butterflies escaped.
After the storm, 269 butterflies
remained. How many butterflies escaped?

A mockingbird eats 45
worms per day. How many
worms would a mocking
bird eat in three days?

Molly planted three daisy seeds in five

different pots. All of the seeds sprouted
but 6 died a week later because Molly
forgot to water them. How many
flowers did Molly have left?

Mr. Jones has 18 carrots, 15

potatoes, 24 peppers, and 9
cucumbers in his garden.
Which two vegetables does Mr.
Jones have exactly 24 of?
 16 $2.50

5 32

53 135

34 9

No, he
would need 49
$4.45
and

18 39
SOLVE

903 308

Potatoes
and 35
Cucumbers
Name: ____________________
1) Jenny went outside to look 2) Last week, 435
for insects. She found 12 students brought a kite
ladybugs, 13 grasshoppers, to school for kite day.
and 9 bumble bees. How 127 kids forgot their kite
many insects did she find in at home. How many
all? more kids remembered
to bring their kite for
kite day?

3) The students in Mrs. John’s 4) Will has $4.00. He

class wanted to catch 84 wants to buy a bucket
ladybugs for their ladybug of worms for $2.95 and
garden. On Thursday, they a new fishing hook for
caught 12 ladybugs. On Friday,
$1.50. Does he have
they caught 19 ladybugs and 2
enough money to buy
grasshoppers. How many more
ladybugs do they need to
these two things?
catch?

5) Zane caught 15 fireflies 6) Lily and her four

in a jar. Emily and Sara ladybug friends each
each caught 17 fireflies. have 7 black spots.
How many fireflies did the How many spots do
three children catch in all? Lily and her friends
have all together?

7) The students in Mr. Horton’s class

were collecting flower petals for an
8) Marissa buys her
art project. On Monday, they mom two flowers
collected 76 flower petals. On that cost $1.25 each.
Tuesday, they collected 45 flower
petals. On Wednesday, they collected She pays with a $5 bill.
58 flower petals. How many more How much change
petals did they collect on Monday
than on Wednesday?
does Marissa get
back?
9) There were 52 carrots in
Amy’s garden before the
rabbits ate 18 of them. If
Amy needed 50 carrots to
make soup, how many more
carrots does she now need?
11) If a bee visited 8
flowers in one hour,
how many flowers
could the bee visit in 4
hours?
13) A butterfly farm in Florida
had 308 butterflies. A hurricane
damaged the building and some
butterflies escaped. After the
storm, 269 butterflies remained.
How many butterflies escaped?
15) Molly planted three daisy
seeds in five different pots.
All of the seeds sprouted but
6 died a week later because
Molly forgot to water them.
How many flowers did Molly
have left?
10) Chris counted 654 ants on
Monday afternoon. On Tuesday,
Chris counted 249 ants.
How many ants did Chris
count on the two days?
12) Each rose in Katy’s
garden has 12 petals.
How many roses would
Katy need to pick if she
wanted 60 petals?
14) A mockingbird eats
45 worms per day. How
many worms would a
mocking bird eat in
three days?
16) Mr. Jones has 18 carrots, 15
potatoes, 24 peppers, and 9
cucumbers in his garden.
Which two vegetables does Mr.
Jones have exactly 24 of?
ANSWER KEY
1) 34
2) 308
3) 53
4) No, he would need $4.45
5) 49
6) 35
7) 18
8) $2.50
9) 16
10) 903
11) 32
12) 5
13) 39
14) 135
15) 9
16) Potatoes & Cucumbers
 2nd GRADE
Purposeful Problem Solving

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Solving Situations for your Classroom
 2nd GRADE
Purposeful Problem Solving

A Series of Purposeful Problem

Solving Situations for your Classroom
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