Mathematics
Intermediate
50 mins
Teacher/Student led
Learning Goals
Learning Outcomes
Lesson Files
+70 XP
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IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Mixed-operation Problem Solving: Which Operation?

Learn to read a story problem and pick the right operation—add, take away, times, or share—by spotting the action words. Write number sentences that match each story.

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    1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

    Key point

    Illustration for Getting StartedIs this a story where we add, take away, times, or share? What word or picture in the story told you?

    Here is a story: a camogie club has 6 teams, and every team has 4 players. How many players are there in all?

    You do not have to work out the answer yet. Just this: is this a story where we add, take away, times, or share? What word or picture in the story told you?

    👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

    +5 XP

    2 - Watch and Notice ~11 mins

    We will read five short stories together. In each one, listen for the action in the story that tells us which operation to reach for, words like altogether, left, each or shared. Watch the last story closely: it needs more than one step.

    1. There are 18 apples in one basket and 24 in another. How many altogether?
    2. A bus has 45 seats and 19 are empty. How many are taken?
    3. There are 7 tables with 8 chairs at each. How many chairs?
    4. 36 pencils are shared equally between 6 tables. How many at each table?
    5. A shop has 5 boxes of 12 buns, and 9 buns are sold. How many are left?
    Key point

    The numbers can be big, but it is the action in the story that tells us which operation to reach for, and sometimes a story asks for more than one step.

    👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

    +10 XP

    3 - Try It Together ~8 mins

    We work through four stories together, one at a time. For each one: read it, find the action word, name the operation, then write the number sentence. Check each answer before moving on.

    1. Story 1. A team scored 35 points in the first half and 28 in the second. How many points altogether?
    2. Story 2. A jersey costs €40. Aoife pays with a €50 note. How much change is left?
    3. Story 3. There are 5 rows of 6 cones. How many cones in all?
    4. Story 4. 24 hurleys are shared equally between 4 lockers. How many hurleys in each locker?

    Which operation? Four stories

    +10 XP

    4 - Write It in Your Copy ~4 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, choose one of the problems we worked on the board. Write the operation you chose, the number sentence, and the answer as a full sentence with its units.

    For example: Operation: adding. 35 + 28 = 63. The team scored 63 points altogether.

    +10 XP

    5 - Class Challenge ~9 mins

    Five stories for today's challenge, from easiest to trickiest. For each one, name the operation and write the number sentence, then check it before the next. The last story needs two steps.

    1. Story 1. Saoirse gathers 26 conkers and finds 17 more. How many conkers altogether?
    2. Story 2. A club has 60 tickets and has sold 42. How many tickets are left to sell?
    3. Story 3. A relay team has 7 runners and each runs 5 laps. How many laps in all?
    4. Story 4. 30 sliotars are shared equally between 6 stations. How many sliotars at each station?
    5. Story 5 (two-step — needs two number sentences). A shop has 45 apples, sells 28, then gets 20 more. How many apples now?

    Class challenge: five stories

    +10 XP
    Pupil practice
    Module 2 · The Four Operations: Mental and Written Number
    Lesson 29 · Mixed-operation Problem Solving: Which Operation?
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