This set of 1st grade math word problems contains 5 questions for each math standard. The questions are designed to help build conceptual understanding.

These questions can be used for whole class lesson starters, 1st grade math small groups, rotations, homework, math spiral review and math test prep.

Math word problems help students take math understanding to the next level. And these Power Problems were designed to do just that. Not all math word problems are created equally, it is important that word problems are realistic, relatable and written to promote higher order thinking. Power Problems do just that!

Combining a math word problem attack strategy with a good set of math word problems is a proven research-based strategy for deepening students’ mathematical understanding.

You can confidently use these word problems knowing that the questioning is targeting conceptual understanding. Students will need to use their reading and comprehension skills while also applying everything they have learned in math class.

Mastering the art of solving math word problems takes a lot of practice. With five questions for each standard, this set of Power Problems includes plenty of opportunities for practice.

How Power Problems will help your students:

1. Display Math Applications in the Real World: Power Problems will show students how math concepts apply to real world situations and why math is so important.
2. Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Some basic reasoning and elimination skills can lead to success with multiple choice questioning, but these word problems will require students to read carefully, gather relevant information, solve the math problem and think about whether or not their answer makes sense in the context of the problem.
3. Application of Multiple Concepts: Power Problems will require students to pull apart problems, solve multiple pieces, put them back together into a logical solution.
4. Build Creativity: Procedural math questions don’t build a great deal of creativity. In fact, with enough procedural questioning, students will just memorize the answers. But with Power Problems, there will be opportunities for students to create their own equation to solve the problem leading to several different approaches.
5. Teacher Screening Aid: The best screeners of students are good teachers! And Power Problems are a great tool for teachers to visually see the mastery level of each of their students for each math standard or concept.

We have Power Problems for grades K-8! CLICK HERE to shop!

Standards and Topics Covered:

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

• 1.OA.1 – Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems
• 1.OA.2 – Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20
• 1.OA.3 – Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract
• 1.OA.4 – Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem
• 1.OA.5 – Relate counting to addition and subtraction
• 1.OA.6 – Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10
• 1.OA.7 – Understand the meaning of the equal sign
• 1.OA.8 – Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation

Number and Operations in Base Ten

• 1.NBT.1 – Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120
• 1.NBT.2 – Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones
• 1.NBT.3 – Compare two two-digit numbers
• 1.NBT.4 – Add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number
• 1.NBT.5 – Given a two-digit number, mentally find 10 more or 10 less than the number
• 1.NBT.6 – Subtract multiples of 10 in the range 10-90 from multiples of 10 in the range 10-90

Measurement and Data

• 1.MD.1 – Order objects by length
• 1.MD.2 – Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object
• 1.MD.3 – Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks
• 1.MD.4 – Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories

Geometry

• 1.G.1 – Identifying attributes of shapes
• 1.G.2 – Composing shapes
• 1.G.3 – Partition circles and rectangles into equal shares