Teaching our students the method of multistep problem solving can be frustrating and exhausting! Make learning how to solve these complex math problems fun with the U.G.L.Y. method. You will need to model the UGLY method a few times until students completely understand the concept. There are essentially four easy steps.
Understand the Problem: Students will read the math problem and underline any important information.
Get a Strategy: There are many different strategies out there but I have simplified them into four.
Pictures – Students can draw pictures to solve the problem. This is perhaps the easiest and the “go to” method for students.
Symbols – Students will use the computation symbols and write an equation to solve the problem.
Words – Students can write their thinking in sentences and “narrate” their thinking.
Objects – Students can use manipulative to solve the problem. This is great for struggling students who need extra support.
Let’s Solve: After choosing a strategy, the students will show their work and solve the problem.
Your Answer: Students will write the answer along with how they arrived at the answer in complete sentences.

This pack includes a poster, 10 UGLY strategy work pages to work through together. There are also 25 work pages for problem solving using the UGLY method. There are two problems per page. There are five pages for Time, Money, Addition and Subtraction, Division, and Multiplication. These are great in centers or independent time.

Check out some other great math resources to enhance your math instruction!

Telling Time to the Quarter Hour Lesson Plan and Showdown Partner Game
Fractions On A Number Line Scavenger Hunt Activity
2 and 3 Digit Addition and Subtraction BINGO
Area and Perimeter Bulletin Board and Center Games
Measurement, Line Plot and Graphing Activities