Infusing Dynamism into Daily Problem Solving
Five Alternative Methods for Practicing Tape Diagrams
Method 1: Question-less Word Problems
There is no singular method for delivering question-less word problems, but the following procedure often produces dynamic results.
Students chorally read a few sentences of information that does not include a question.
The teacher directs students to diagram what they read.
As students draw diagrams, the teacher probes the room, prompting individuals to do one or more of the following:
Label all parts of the diagram.
Position a question mark in the diagram.
Share and explain drawings with a classmate.
Fill in parts of the diagram that aren’t given in the information provided.
Draw a second diagram to represent the same information.
Create a list of questions that could be answered with the given information.
After a few minutes, the teacher demonstrates drawing a diagram to match the question-less problem. To stimulate flexible thinking, they might create a model that differs from what most students drew.
Students share questions that they wrote, and the teacher chooses one for all students to solve.
