Mathematical understanding involves distinguishing the quantities, units, and relationships in a simple situation from descriptive details that do not affect its solution, and identifying which known values and unknown quantity are represented by the question. In one-step addition, subtraction, and comparison situations within 20, this information supports an accurate drawing, equation, or other mathematical model; multi-step problems and more advanced forms of relevance are not included.
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- Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Identify relevant information you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Identify relevant information” from different perspectives.
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Detailed Explanation: Identify relevant information
Before solving a word problem, find the information that helps you answer the question.
Look for:
- Numbers: What amounts are given?
- Units: What are you counting, such as apples or stickers?
- Relationship words: Words like more, fewer, left, or altogether.
- The question: What do you need to find?
Some details may be interesting but do not change the answer.
Example
Mia has red stickers. She puts more stickers in her blue notebook. How many stickers does Mia have now?
Step 1: Find the known amounts.
Mia starts with stickers and adds stickers.
Step 2: Find the relationship.
The words “ more” tell us to add.
Step 3: Decide what information is not needed.
The stickers being red and the notebook being blue do not affect how many stickers Mia has.
Step 4: Find what is unknown.
The question asks for the total number of stickers.
Step 5: Make a math model.
Mia has stickers now.
Learn by doing: Identify relevant information
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Practice:
Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture to Equation (Within 20)
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Download/Modify Free Grade 1 'Identify relevant information' Worksheet
Print this free 'Identify relevant information' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture to Equation (Within 20)
- Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture and Instruction to Number (Within 20)
- Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture and Instruction to Word (Within 20)
- Picture Numbers - Subtracting - Picture to Word (Within 10)
Units Teaching This Skill
These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Identify relevant information) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.