Lesson 18

Diagrams and Equations for Word Problems

Lesson Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for students to relate diagrams and equations to two-step word problems.

Lesson Narrative

In grade 2, students interpreted tape diagrams for one- and two-step problems involving addition and subtraction. Earlier this year, they did the same with one-step word problems involving multiplication. They also learned that a question mark, a blank line, or a box could be used to represent an unknown quantity in an equation.

In this lesson, students connect tape diagrams and equations with a symbol standing for the unknown quantity to two-step word problems. The work of this lesson prepares students to write equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity and solve two-step problems, using a diagram if it helps them.

  • Engagement
  • MLR8

Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

  • Relate diagrams and equations to two-step word problems.

Student Facing

  • Let’s connect diagrams and equations to situations.

Required Materials

Materials to Gather

Materials to Copy

  • Card Sort: Situations, Equations, and Diagrams

Required Preparation

Activity 1:

  • Create a set of cards from the blackline master for each group of 4. 

CCSS Standards

Addressing

Building Towards

Lesson Timeline

Warm-up 10 min
Activity 1 15 min
Activity 2 20 min
Lesson Synthesis 10 min
Cool-down 5 min

Teacher Reflection Questions

Students previously used tape diagrams to represent and solve one-step addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. How are they leveraging that knowledge in this lesson on two-step problems?

Suggested Centers

  • Tic Tac Round (3–5), Stage 1: Nearest Ten or Hundred (Addressing)
  • Number Puzzles: Addition and Subtraction (1–4), Stage 5: Within 1,000 (Addressing)
  • Five in a Row: Multiplication (3–5), Stage 2: Factors 1–9 (Supporting)

Print Formatted Materials

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Additional Resources

Google Slides

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PowerPoint Slides

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