A story problem tells a little story about something happening, and we need to figure out the answer. At Pre-K, we act out these stories with real objects we can touch and move!

The Basic Parts

• A story: Something happening to people, animals, or things
• Numbers: How many of something
• A question: What do we need to find out?
• Objects: Real things we use to act out the story
• An answer: What we discover by acting it out

Why Use Objects?

Pre-K children need to:
- See the story happen
- Touch and move real things
- Act out the action
- Count to find the answer

We don't write equations or do mental math yet - we make the story real!

Adding Stories

Structure: Start with some + get more = ?

Example:
"Maya has 2 dolls. Her friend gives her 1 more doll. How many dolls does Maya have now?"
- Use 2 objects for the dolls Maya has
- Add 1 more object when friend gives one
- Count all objects: 3 dolls

Taking Away Stories

Structure: Start with some - take away some = ?

Example:
"Ben had 5 crackers. He ate 2 crackers. How many crackers does Ben have left?"
- Start with 5 objects
- Remove 2 objects (eat them!)
- Count what's left: 3 crackers

Putting Together Stories

Structure: Group 1 + Group 2 = ?

Example:
"There are 3 red balloons and 2 blue balloons. How many balloons are there altogether?"
- Make a group of 3 objects (red balloons)
- Make a group of 2 objects (blue balloons)
- Push them together and count: 5 balloons

Taking Apart Stories

Structure: Total = Part 1 + Part 2

Example:
"Sofia has 6 crayons. Some are on the table and some are in the box. If 4 are on the table, how many are in the box?"
- Start with 6 objects
- Put 4 in one place (table)
- Count what's left for the other place: 2 in box

Step 1: Listen to the Story

• Pay close attention
• What is happening?
• Who or what is in the story?

Step 2: Get Objects

• Choose objects to represent the story
• Could be blocks, counters, toys, or anything!
• Make sure you have enough

Step 3: Act It Out

• Do what the story says
• If it says "put together," put objects together
• If it says "take away," remove objects
• Make the story happen with real objects!

Step 4: Count

• Count the objects
• The count gives you the answer
• Say the answer: "There are 5!"

Step 5: Check

• Does the answer make sense?
• Listen to the story again
• Act it out again if needed

Adding Story 1

"There are 2 birds in the tree. 3 more birds fly to the tree. How many birds are in the tree now?"
- Start with 2 counters (birds)
- Add 3 more counters (more birds fly in)
- Count all: 5 birds

Adding Story 2

"You have 3 stickers. Your teacher gives you 2 more stickers. How many stickers do you have now?"
- Start with 3 objects
- Add 2 more
- Count: 5 stickers

Taking Away Story 1

"There were 5 ducks swimming. 2 ducks swam away. How many ducks are still swimming?"
- Start with 5 objects
- Remove 2 objects
- Count remaining: 3 ducks

Taking Away Story 2

"You had 4 cookies. You ate 1 cookie. How many cookies do you have left?"
- Start with 4 objects
- Remove 1 object
- Count: 3 cookies left

Putting Together Story

"There are 2 toy cars on the floor and 3 toy cars on the shelf. How many toy cars are there in all?"
- Make one group of 2
- Make another group of 3
- Combine and count: 5 cars

Story Acting Center

Materials: Various small objects, pictures to prompt stories
1. Tell a simple story
2. Child chooses objects to represent the story
3. Child acts out the story
4. Child counts to find the answer

Story Bag

Materials: Bag with story cards and counters
1. Draw a story card
2. Read/tell the story
3. Use counters to act it out
4. Find the answer

Snack Story Time

Materials: Snacks!
1. Create real stories with actual snacks
2. "You have 3 grapes. I give you 2 more. How many now?"
3. Child actually gets the snacks and counts
4. Then eats them!

Partner Stories

Materials: Small toys
1. Children work in pairs
2. One child tells a story
3. Other child acts it out with toys
4. Both count to find answer
5. Switch roles

Math Is About Real Life

• Stories connect to things children know
• Animals, toys, food, friends
• Math isn't abstract - it's about our world!

Different Actions Need Different Strategies

• "Put together" → combine groups
• "Get more" → add to existing group
• "Take away" → remove objects
• "Split up" → separate into parts

Recognizing the action helps solve the problem!

Objects Make It Clear

• Can see what's happening
• Can touch and move things
• Can count the result
• Makes abstract concrete

Challenge 1: Not Understanding the Story

• Problem: Child doesn't know what the story is about
• Solution: Use simpler language, familiar contexts
• Act it out together first

Challenge 2: Using Wrong Action

• Problem: Takes away instead of adding, or vice versa
• Solution: Listen carefully to the action words
• Model: "It says 'get more' so we add objects"

Challenge 3: Counting Errors

• Problem: Makes mistakes while counting
• Solution: Count slowly together
• Line objects up to make counting easier

Challenge 4: Giving Up Too Quickly

• Problem: Says "I don't know"
• Solution: Encourage: "Let's use these blocks to show the story"
• Guide through the process

Use Simple Stories

• Short sentences
• Familiar vocabulary
• Small numbers (1-5)
• One step at a time

Make Stories Personal

• Use child's name
• Use their toys or favorite things
• Connect to their experiences
• "You have 3 toy cars..."

Provide Plenty of Objects

• Have lots of counters available
• Different types (blocks, buttons, toys)
• Let child choose what to use
• Having options helps engagement

Go Slowly

• Don't rush
• Let child think
• Wait for them to act it out
• Give time to count

Celebrate Effort

• "You acted out the story!"
• "You found the answer!"
• "You used the blocks to help you think!"
• Process is as important as answer

At Home

• "You're setting the table for 3 people. You put out 2 plates. How many more plates do you need?"
• "There are 4 shoes by the door. 2 shoes go away. How many shoes are left?"

At School

• "4 children are at the art table. 2 more children join them. How many children are at the art table now?"
• "We have 6 paintbrushes. 2 are being used. How many are not being used?"

In Stories

• "The three bears have 3 bowls of porridge. Goldilocks eats 1 bowl. How many bowls are left?"
• Storybooks provide natural story problems!

Listen For Key Words

• Adding words: more, join, get, find, altogether, in all, total
• Subtracting words: take away, eat, lose, left, remaining, go away
• Question words: how many, how much, what's the answer

Story Language

• Had, has, have (what they start with)
• Got, gave, received (adding)
• Ate, lost, flew away (taking away)
• All together, in all (total)

Can the child:
- Listen to a story problem?
- Choose appropriate objects?
- Act out the story with objects?
- Perform the correct action (add or subtract)?
- Count accurately to find the answer?
- Answer the question?
- Explain what they did?

Once children can solve story problems with objects:
- They're ready for slightly more complex stories
- They can work with bigger numbers
- They can begin to visualize without always needing objects
- They're building problem-solving skills!

Story problems show that math helps us understand and solve real situations!