Problem Solver Workout Worksheet
TEKS 3.4K Grade 3 Mathematics
Problem Solver Workout
Name:
Date: Class:
Directions: Read each word problem carefully. Draw a model (strip diagram, array, or equal groups), write an equation with a symbol for the unknown, and solve.
Page 1 of 3
1
Maya bought 6 packs of stickers for her art project. Each pack contained 8 stickers. How many stickers did Maya buy in all?
Model / Representation
Equation:
Answer:
stickers
2
Coach Jackson has 36 soccer cones. He sets up 4 drill stations and puts the same number of cones at each station. How many cones are at each station?
Model / Representation
Equation:
Answer:
cones
3
Julian bought 4 packages of juice boxes. Each package had 6 juice boxes. Later, his neighbor brought him 5 more juice boxes. How many juice boxes does Julian have in total now?
Work Space / Steps
Equation(s):
Answer:
juice boxes
4
A bakery prepared 7 trays of cinnamon rolls with 8 rolls on each tray. By noon, customers purchased 24 cinnamon rolls. How many cinnamon rolls were left?
Work Space / Steps
Equation(s):
Answer:
cinnamon rolls
TEKS 3.4K • One-Step & Two-Step Problems Problem Solver Workout • Page 1
TEKS 3.4K Two-Step Problem Solving
Problem Solver Workout
Student Name:
Strategy Tip: Identify the hidden question first! What do you need to calculate before answering the main question?
Page 2 of 3
5
Sofia had 45 colorful beads. She used 13 beads to make a bookmark. Then she divided the rest of the beads equally among 4 craft bracelets. How many beads did she put on each bracelet?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
beads
6
Lucas bought 3 boxes of strawberry bars with 6 bars in each box. He also bought 2 boxes of honey bars with 8 bars in each box. How many snack bars did Lucas buy in all?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
snack bars
7
An animal shelter received 48 chew toys. The staff divided the toys equally among 6 puppy playpens. Then, a visitor brought 3 extra chew toys to Playpen A. How many toys are in Playpen A now?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
toys
8
Mrs. Carter baked 4 pans of brownies with 9 brownies in each pan. She packaged all of the brownies equally into 6 gift boxes. How many brownies were placed into each gift box?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
brownies
TEKS 3.4K • One-Step & Two-Step Problems Problem Solver Workout • Page 2
TEKS 3.4K Mixed Operations Mastery
Problem Solver Workout
Student Name:
Final Challenge: Check that your final answer makes sense in the problem's real-world story. Include units with every answer!
Page 3 of 3
9
Marcus has 54 tomato seedlings to plant in the community garden. He plants 9 seedlings in each row. How many equal rows of tomato seedlings does Marcus plant?
Model / Representation
Equation:
Answer:
rows
10
At the school STEM fair, Liam earned 28 points on Monday and 35 points on Tuesday. His teacher divided all his points equally across 7 skill categories. How many points did Liam earn in each category?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
points
11
An art studio had 5 boxes of sculpting clay with 10 clay blocks in each box. During pottery club, the students used 34 clay blocks. How many clay blocks does the art studio have left?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
clay blocks
12
Elijah has 6 packs of trading cards with 5 cards in each pack. Zoe has 4 packs of trading cards with 8 cards in each pack. How many trading cards do they have altogether?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
cards
TEKS 3.4K • One-Step & Two-Step Problems Problem Solver Workout • Page 3
Operation Mastery Quiz
TEKS 3.4K Summative Assessment
Operation Mastery Quiz
Name:
Date: Class:
Score ____ / 8
Directions: Read each word problem carefully. For multiple-choice questions, fill in the bubble next to your choice. For open-ended items, show all mathematical work and write your final answer.
Page 1 of 2
1
Mr. Alvarez bought 5 boxes of markers for his classroom art supplies. Each box contained 8 markers. How many markers did Mr. Alvarez buy in all?
A 13 markers
B 35 markers
C 40 markers
D 48 markers
2
A pet groomer has 32 dog bandanas. She distributes them equally among 4 grooming stations. How many bandanas does she place at each station?
Work Space / Model
Equation:
Answer:
bandanas
3
Elena baked 3 batches of blueberry muffins with 8 muffins in each batch. Her family ate 6 muffins for breakfast. How many muffins are left?
A 18 muffins
B 24 muffins
C 30 muffins
D 15 muffins
4
Darius bought 4 packs of baseball cards. Each pack had 9 cards. Then, his friend gave him 7 additional cards. How many cards does Darius have in all now?
Work Space (Show Steps)
Equation(s):
Answer:
cards
TEKS 3.4K Assessment Operation Mastery Quiz • Page 1
TEKS 3.4K Part 2: Two-Step Analysis
Operation Mastery Quiz
Student Name:
Instructions: For two-step questions, be sure to complete both steps before writing your final answer.
Page 2 of 2
5
Clara collected 19 yellow sea glass pieces and 26 blue sea glass pieces. She sorted all the pieces equally into 5 glass display jars. How many pieces did Clara put in each jar?
A 7 pieces
B 8 pieces
C 9 pieces
D 45 pieces
6
A gardener had 60 tulip bulbs. She planted 18 bulbs in the front yard. Then she planted the remaining bulbs equally into 6 window boxes. How many tulip bulbs were planted in each window box?
Work Space (Show Steps)
Equation(s):
Answer:
bulbs
7
A science club ordered 6 boxes of test tubes with 6 test tubes in each box. The club teacher divides all the test tubes equally among 4 lab groups. How many test tubes does each lab group receive?
A 8 test tubes
B 9 test tubes
C 12 test tubes
D 36 test tubes
8
Farmer Ben packed 3 crates of red apples with 8 apples in each crate. He also packed 5 crates of green apples with 6 apples in each crate. What is the total number of apples Farmer Ben packed?
Work Space (Step 1 & Step 2)
Equation(s):
Answer:
apples
Self-Check: How confident do you feel about your solutions?
Need Help Pretty Good Mastered It
TEKS 3.4K Assessment Operation Mastery Quiz • Page 2
Operation Solutions Answer Key
Teacher Resource TEKS 3.4K Assessment & Worksheet Keys
Operation Solutions & Scoring Guide
Target Standard TEKS 3.4(K) Mastery
Quiz Quick-Scoring Reference (8 Questions / 10 Points Total)
Passing Benchmark: 70%+ (7/10 pts)
| # |
Format |
Correct Answer |
Mathematical Steps / Equation |
Misconception / Distractor Alert |
| Q1 |
MC (1-Step) |
C (40 markers) |
5 × 8 = 40 |
A (13) added 5+8; B (35) fact error (5×7). |
| Q2 |
CR (1-Step) |
8 bandanas |
32 ÷ 4 = 8 or 4 × 8 = 32 |
Watch for students subtracting (32 - 4 = 28). |
| Q3 |
MC (2-Step) |
A (18 muffins) |
1) 3 × 8 = 24 2) 24 - 6 = 18 |
B (24) stopped after Step 1; C (30) added 24+6. |
| Q4 |
CR (2-Step) |
43 cards |
1) 4 × 9 = 36 2) 36 + 7 = 43 |
Common slip: adding before multiplying. |
| Q5 |
MC (2-Step) |
C (9 pieces) |
1) 19 + 26 = 45 2) 45 ÷ 5 = 9 |
D (45) stopped after Step 1 total. |
| Q6 |
CR (2-Step) |
7 bulbs |
1) 60 - 18 = 42 2) 42 ÷ 6 = 7 |
Error: dividing 60 ÷ 6 = 10, then subtracting. |
| Q7 |
MC (2-Step) |
B (9 tubes) |
1) 6 × 6 = 36 2) 36 ÷ 4 = 9 |
D (36) stopped after step 1; C divided by 3. |
| Q8 |
CR (2-Step) |
54 apples |
1) 3×8=24 2) 5×6=30 3) 24+30=54 |
Error: multiplying crates together (3×5=15). |
Constructed Response Scoring Guide (Q2, Q4, Q6, Q8 & Worksheet items):
Full Credit (2 pts)
Correct mathematical equation/model AND correct final answer with label/unit.
Partial Credit (1 pt)
Correct two-step strategy shown with minor computation slip, or missing units.
No Credit (0 pts)
Incorrect operations chosen, incomplete single step, or no response provided.
Problem Solver Workout Key • Part 1 (Problems 1–6)
Student Worksheet Pages 1 & 2
Problem 1 (Equal Groups Mult) 48 stickers
Equation: \(6 \times 8 = 48\)
Model: 6 groups of 8 or an array of 6 rows with 8 dots.
Problem 2 (Equal Sharing Div) 9 cones
Equation: \(36 \div 4 = 9\) or \(4 \times 9 = 36\)
Model: 4 circles with 9 tally marks in each circle.
Problem 3 (Mult + Add) 29 juice boxes
Step 1: \(4 \times 6 = 24\) juice boxes purchased
Step 2: \(24 + 5 = 29\) total juice boxes
Problem 4 (Mult - Sub) 32 rolls
Step 1: \(7 \times 8 = 56\) rolls baked
Step 2: \(56 - 24 = 32\) rolls remaining
Problem 5 (Sub then Div) 8 beads
Step 1: \(45 - 13 = 32\) beads remaining
Step 2: \(32 \div 4 = 8\) beads per bracelet
Problem 6 (Mult + Mult) 34 bars
Step 1: Strawberry = \(3 \times 6 = 18\); Honey = \(2 \times 8 = 16\)
Step 2: \(18 + 16 = 34\) snack bars total
TEKS 3.4K Teacher Key • Quick Scoring Solutions & Scoring Guide • Page 1 of 2
Teacher Resource Worksheet Key & Diagnostic Support
Operation Solutions & Scoring Guide
Grade 3 Mathematics Page 2 of 2
Problem Solver Workout Key • Part 2 (Problems 7–12)
Student Worksheet Pages 2 & 3
Problem 7 (Div + Add) 11 toys
Step 1: \(48 \div 6 = 8\) toys per playpen
Step 2: \(8 + 3 = 11\) toys in Playpen A
Problem 8 (Mult then Div) 6 brownies
Step 1: \(4 \times 9 = 36\) brownies baked
Step 2: \(36 \div 6 = 6\) brownies in each gift box
Problem 9 (Measurement Div) 6 rows
Equation: \(54 \div 9 = 6\) rows (or \(6 \times 9 = 54\))
Model: Grouping 54 into sets of 9.
Problem 10 (Add then Div) 9 points
Step 1: \(28 + 35 = 63\) total STEM fair points
Step 2: \(63 \div 7 = 9\) points per category
Problem 11 (Mult - Sub) 16 clay blocks
Step 1: \(5 \times 10 = 50\) total clay blocks
Step 2: \(50 - 34 = 16\) clay blocks left
Problem 12 (Mult + Mult) 62 cards
Step 1: Elijah = \(6 \times 5 = 30\); Zoe = \(4 \times 8 = 32\)
Step 2: \(30 + 32 = 62\) trading cards altogether
TEKS 3.4K Error Analysis & Intervention Strategies
Misconception 1: The "One-and-Done" Trap
Student stops after completing Step 1 (e.g., calculates \(3 \times 8 = 24\) and circles 24 instead of subtracting 6).
Targeted Fix: Teach the "Question Detective" protocol: Have students underline the exact question sentence with a colored highlighter. After calculating, ask: "Did my number answer the highlighted question or just part of the story?"
Misconception 2: Operation Guessing
Student grabs numbers and adds/subtracts them without modeling equal groups or equal sharing.
Targeted Fix: Mandate a quick strip diagram or equal-groups sketch before writing numbers. Prompt: "Are the groups equal? If yes, it must be multiplication or division!"
Misconception 3: Inverted Division Order
Student divides the first number mentioned rather than the subtotal (e.g., dividing 60 by 6 instead of subtracting 18 first in Q6).
Targeted Fix: Have students act out the story chronologically: "First what happened? 18 were planted. How many are left now? Now what happens to what is left?"
Misconception 4: Naked Numbers & Labels
Student writes pure numbers without units, confusing what each quantity represents in multi-step chains.
Targeted Fix: Enforce the "Number + Word" rule on every intermediate step (e.g., "30 red apples + 24 green apples = 54 total apples").
Recommended Pacing: Worksheet: 2–3 class periods (4 problems per day in centers or guided math groups). Quiz: 25–35 minutes independent administration.
Grade 3 Math • TEKS 3.4K
TEKS 3.4K Teacher Key • Quick Scoring Solutions & Scoring Guide • Page 2 of 2
