Are you looking for a way to help boost your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills? Well, look no further than worded maths worksheets! These types of worksheets are a great tool for helping children develop these important skills.
Firstly, let’s talk about what we mean by “worded” maths problems. Essentially, these are maths problems that are presented in the form of a story or scenario, rather than just a list of numbers to add, subtract, multiply or divide. For example, here’s a worded maths problem from Mathical Creatures worksheets:
“Mr Numbat is a small marsupial living in Western Australia. From the top of his head to the tip of his tail, Mr Numbat is 46 cm. If his bushy tail measures 17 cm, what is the length of his body?”
These types of problems require children to not only understand the mathematical operations required to solve the problem, but also to interpret and analyse the information presented to them. They have to think critically about the situation and use their problem-solving skills to figure out the answer.
So, how can worded maths problems help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
Firstly, they encourage children to think beyond just the numbers. By presenting the problem in the form of a story or scenario, children have to use their reading comprehension skills to understand the problem. This means they have to analyse the information presented to them and identify the key details they need to solve the problem.
Secondly, worded maths problems require children to apply their maths knowledge in real-life situations. This helps children understand how maths is used in the real world and helps them develop problem-solving skills that they can use in other areas of their lives.
Lastly, worded maths problems can help children develop their confidence and resilience. When children are faced with a difficult problem, they have to think creatively and come up with different strategies to solve it. This helps them develop their confidence in their abilities and their resilience in the face of challenges.
At Mathical Creatures, we provide worded maths worksheets with a growth mindset approach. This means we encourage children to embrace challenges and see them as opportunities to learn and grow. Our worksheets are designed to help children develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.
So, if you want to help your children develop these important skills, why not try our free worded maths worksheets?
