Problem Solving Clue Words

*CUBES Strategy *Clue Words

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​One-Step Word Problems

C - Circle the Numbers

●Look for all the numbers in the problem

●Circle them with your pencil

●This helps you see what information you have

●Example: "Sam has 5 apples and buys 3 more"

Circle: 5 and 3

U - Underline the Question

●Find the question in the problem

●Draw a line under it

●This shows what you need to find out

●Example: "How many apples does Sam have now?"

Underline: "How many apples does Sam have now?"

B - Box the Keywords

●Look for important words that tell you what to do

●Draw a box around these words

●Examples of keywords:

●Add, Plus, Sum, Total

●Subtract, Minus, Difference

●More than, Less than

E - Eliminate Extra Information

●Cross out any information you don't need

●This helps you focus on what's important

●Example: "Sam has 5 red apples and buys 3 green ones. How many apples
does he have?"

Cross out: "red" and "green" (color doesn't matter for counting)

S - Solve and Check

●Use the information to solve the problem

●Check if your answer makes sense

●Ask yourself: "Does this answer fit the question?"

Let's Practice!

Problem: "Jenny has 4 cookies. Her friend gives her 2 more. How many cookies
does Jenny have now?"

1. Circle: 4 and 2

2. Underline: "How many cookies does Jenny have now?"

3. Box: "gives her"

4. Eliminate: Nothing to cross out

5. Solve: (4 + 2 = 6) cookies

Multiple Choice

Nina bought 15 balloons. She gave away 5. How many balloons did Nina have left?

What would you circle in the word problem?

• How many balloons did Nina have left?

• gave away, have left

• 15 balloons, 5

Multiple Choice

Nick has 9 red apples and 4 yellow apples. How many more red apples than yellow apples does Nick have?

What would you box in the word problem?

• 9 red apples and 4 yellow apples

• How many more

• How many more red apples than yellow apples does Nick have?

Multiple Choice

Miss Kelly baked 12 blueberry muffins. Her dad ate 2 muffins. How many muffins does Miss Kelly have?

What would you underline in the word problem?

• 12 blueberry muffins, 2 muffins

• ate, How many muffins

• How many muffins does Miss Kelly have?

Multiple Choice

There are 15 birds in an apple tree. A squirrel chases 8 away. How many birds are left in the tree?

What would you circle in the word problem?

• 15 birds, 8

• away, are left

• How many birds are left in the tree?

Multiple Choice

Wyatt has 4 cookies. His mom gave him 6 more cookies. How many cookies does Wyatt have?

What information should you underline?

• 4 cookies, 6 cookies

• His mom gave, more, How many

• How many cookies does Wyatt have?