Grade 5
29 activities—256 pages

Solve It! 5th: Problem-Solving Strategies develops students’ problem-solving abilities by identifying and reinforcing nine effective techniques through creative hands-on investigations. 

While looking for patterns in “Picks, Polygons, and Perimeters,” students will use toothpicks to make polygons and see how changing the shape and its perimeter impacts area. In “Fiddling With Fours,” they are challenged to make equations using four 4s so that the answers equal the numbers one through 10.

The engaging tasks in this book not only build a foundation of problem-solving strategies, but also allow learners to apply and expand their number, geometry, data organization, and algebra skills.

Solve It! 5th: Problem-Solving Strategies addresses:
•    write a number sentence,
•    look for patterns,
•    work backwards,
•    use manipulatives,
•    draw out the problem,
•    organize the information,
•    guess and check,
•    use logical thinking, and
•    wish for an easier problem.

Teachers will appreciate how each strategy is broken down, defined, and then reinforced through hands-on activities that use the strategy to solve problems. There are also practice problems in the back of the book in which students must decide which problem-solving strategy to use. These problems can be creatively used—as morning work, during the few minutes before buses are called or lunch is served, etc.—as a means to further discuss and review the nine strategies.

This book will supply students with a toolbox of techniques to draw from when approaching problems. These skills will serve them well not only in mathematics, but also in other academic subjects and their everyday lives.