Teach students how to write their own word problems.

1. When students work a word problem, they often have to determine what equation they need to use to solve that problem. Therefore when writing a word problem, students should start by determining the equation that their word problem will be about.
2. Students will need to brainstorm, who is doing what and why? What type of activities would students like to write about? Soccer practice? Going for pizza? Going shopping? Apps on a phone? What type of numbers are involved? What kind of situation could use the equation they want to use? Generally there is a total number given and students must decide an equation for solving the problem, and find the missing info/number based on that equation.
3. Students need to read and revise word problems for fluency before making Scratch game and interactive poster.
4. Students must create wrong answers to accompany their word problem. They should consider what equations might trick students when playing their game.
5. Here is an interesting lesson on connecting English language arts and math through writing word problems on readwritethink.org for younger grades.

Example

Word Problem:

On Saturday, Nico practices soccer twice. He drank a total of 32 fluid ounces of sports drink for the day. If he drank m fluid ounces at morning practice, which equation can be used to find n, the number of fluid ounces for the rest of the day?

1. n= 32 - m - correct answer
2. n = 32 + m
3. n = 32 \u00f7 m
4. n = 32 X m

If the variable m = 15 what is n?

Click here to remix the project in Scratch

Students will learn to program keys for a Sprite (character in game) and create dialogue for for the Sprite to make their word problem poster interactive.

Have students remix this Scratch game with their word problems or start their own in Scratch.

Here is a basic tutorial from my ELA Logic Puzzle Lesson:

1. Sign into Scratch.
2. Familiarize students with the Scratch work area.

1. Familiarize student with the Scripts (Blocks) for today's lesson.

1. Pick a Sprite and a backdrop to get started.

1. When Block- All games need to start somewhere, and the first thing you need to do is program your game to start by dragging a "When (Green Flag) Block" to your "Scripts" area for your main Sprite.

1. Looks Block- Next you need to program your Sprite to speak. Click on the purple "Looks" in the Scripts area to find a "say Hello! block." Change "hello" to the word problem. You may have to use a few "hello" blocks to have enough room to write your question. Drag the purple block to your "When (Flag) clicked" until it clicks together. You can click on your script to run it and see how it functions.

1. Coding Logic - Small bits of code that can create complex games. For a great explanation and writing lesson about If/Then Statements look here.

Make your word problem poster interactive by attaching Makey Makey to pencil drawings or copper tape.

Decide your conductor: Have students decide if they want to use copper tape, thumbtacks, or pencil drawings to create their posters.

Draw and Write: Students need to write the equations for their game. In my game, I had the operators as the switch for students to know if they are correct. So each operator is the "key" attached to the Makey Makey.

Connecting to earth: Students should make an aluminum foil bracelet for others to wear when playing their game.

Connecting keys: Hook the operators/equations/numbers on the poster to the appropriate keys on the Makey Makey.

Play and answer: Have students gallery walk the room and answer each others word problems. I'd suggest carrying pencil and paper or iPad to record answers for each station.

Evaluate: At the end of the day, have students discuss which word problems they like best and why. Ask students to reflect on the hardest/easiest parts of crafting their own word problems.

Ford, Beverly. "Writing a Multiplication Word Problem." Writing a Multiplication Word Problem. AIMS Education Foundation. Web.

"Solving the Math Curse: Reading and Writing Math Word Problems." - ReadWriteThink.org IRA/NCTE. Web.