Problem Solving Clue Words

*CUBES Strategy *Clue Words

​

​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?

Fill in the Blanks

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

Fill in the Blanks

BONUS QUESTION: There are 8 children standing. There are 3 fewer children standing than sitting. How many children are sitting?

Fill in the Blanks

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

Fill in the Blanks

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

Fill in the Blanks

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