Drawing to Solve Math Problems: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Numbers!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:50 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to draw pictures to help solve word problems! This lesson teaches first graders a fun and easy way to visualize math and find the answers.

Video Resource

How to Draw a Picture to Solve Problems

Miacademy Learning Channel

Duration: 2:50
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Word problems can be solved with pictures.
  • Simple drawings can represent objects.
  • Subtraction means taking away.
  • Addition means putting together.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to draw simple pictures to represent objects in a word problem.
  • Students will be able to use their drawings to solve subtraction and addition word problems.
  • Students will be able to identify keywords in word problems that indicate addition or subtraction.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they ever get stuck on word problems. Explain that sometimes drawing a picture can help! Introduce the idea that drawings don't have to be perfect, just helpful.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Show the video "How to Draw a Picture to Solve Problems" from the Miacademy Learning Channel. Remind students to pay attention to how the person in the video draws the pencils.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Present the following word problem: "Lily has 8 apples. She gives 3 apples to her friend. How many apples does Lily have left?" Guide students to draw 8 simple circles to represent the apples. Then, have them cross out 3 of the circles. Ask them how many circles are left. Emphasize the connection between "left" and subtraction.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Present another word problem: "Tom has 5 toy cars. He gets 4 more toy cars for his birthday. How many toy cars does Tom have now?" Have students draw a picture to solve the problem independently. Walk around and provide assistance as needed.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Ask students to share how drawing a picture helped them solve the word problems. Encourage them to use this strategy whenever they get stuck.

Interactive Exercises

  • Story Time Drawings
    Read short word problems aloud and have students draw the solutions on whiteboards or paper. For example: "There are 6 birds on a tree. 2 birds fly away. How many birds are left?" After drawing, have students share their drawings and answers with the class.

Discussion Questions

  • Why can drawing a picture help you solve a word problem?
  • What are some keywords that tell you to subtract?
  • What are some keywords that tell you to add?
  • Does your picture have to be a perfect drawing to help you solve the problem?

Skills Developed

  • Problem-solving
  • Visual representation
  • Subtraction
  • Addition

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What can you draw to help solve math problems?

Correct Answer: A picture

Question 2:

What does the word 'left' usually mean you should do in a math problem?

Correct Answer: Subtract

Question 3:

If you have 5 circles and you cross out 2, how many are left?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 4:

Sara has 3 balloons and gets 2 more. What should you do to find out how many she has in all?

Correct Answer: Add

Question 5:

If a problem asks 'How many are left?' what math sign should you use?

Correct Answer: -

Question 6:

If a problem asks 'How many in all?' what math sign should you use?

Correct Answer: +

Question 7:

You have 4 apples. You eat 1. What should you draw to solve this problem?

Correct Answer: 4 apples, then cross out 1

Question 8:

You have 2 toy cars. Your friend gives you 3 more. How many toy cars do you have?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 9:

Ben has 7 cookies. He eats 2. How many cookies are left?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 10:

Drawing pictures helps you solve ______ problems.

Correct Answer: math

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Drawing a ______ can help you solve word problems.

Correct Answer: picture

Question 2:

When you take some away, you ______.

Correct Answer: subtract

Question 3:

If the word problem says 'how many are left' you should ______.

Correct Answer: subtract

Question 4:

If the word problem says 'how many in all' you should ______.

Correct Answer: add

Question 5:

If Thomas has 12 pencils and loses 7, he has _____ pencils left.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 6:

When solving problems with pictures, you don't have to draw the ______ image.

Correct Answer: exact

Question 7:

Drawing pictures is a fun way to solve ______ problems.

Correct Answer: math

Question 8:

If you have 6 crayons and give 2 away, you will have _____ crayons left.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 9:

If you start with 3 and then add 5, you will have _____ in total.

Correct Answer: 8

Question 10:

If something flies ______ then we subtract it away.

Correct Answer: away

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13). CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

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