Lesson 16
Solve All Kinds of Compare Problems
Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is for students to solve Compare problems with an unknown in all positions.
Lesson Narrative
The number choices in the Compare problems in this lesson encourage students to use methods based on place value to find the unknown value. Students may look for ways to compose a ten or subtract multiples of ten when finding unknown values within 100. Students will subtract numbers other than multiples of ten within 100 in future lessons. Encourage students to use a tape diagram to make sense of the problem if it is helpful.
- Engagement
- MLR8
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Solve Compare problems with unknowns in all positions within 100.
Student Facing
- Let’s solve Compare problems.
Required Preparation
Lesson Timeline
| Warm-up | 10 min |
| Activity 1 | 20 min |
| Activity 2 | 20 min |
| Lesson Synthesis | 10 min |
| Cool-down | 5 min |
Teacher Reflection Questions
What connections did students make between story problem contexts and the placement of the question mark in tape diagrams? How are students using tape diagrams to make sense of Compare problems?
Suggested Centers
- Number Puzzles: Addition and Subtraction (1–4), Stage 2: Within 20 (Addressing)
- Shake and Spill (K–2), Stage 5: Cover (up to 20) (Supporting)
- Sort and Display (1–3), Stage 2: Picture or Bar Graphs (Addressing)