Understanding how to use the C.U.B.E.S. strategy with math word problems will help students have a clear plan of action. In this post, I’ll explain what C.U.B.E.S. is and how these 5 steps will help your students. Using colored pencils helps students to break apart important information in the word problems.

• C in C.U.B.E.S. stands for Circle.
• U in C.U.B.E.S. stands for Underline.
• B in C.U.B.E.S. stands for Box.
• E in C.U.B.E.S. stands for Evaluate and Eliminate
• S in C.U.B.E.S. stands for Solve.

We will use the example problem to go over the steps. Step #2-Underline the question. Have the students read the question aloud to ensure that they really understand what the question is referring to in the math word problems.

We will use the example problem to go over the steps. Step #3-Box the math action words or operational sign. In this problem, we boxed “total”. Total means addition most of the time in math problems. So total tells student that they will be adding in this problem.

We will use the example problem to go over the steps. Step #4-Evaluate and eliminate. We wrote,”Total means to add.” There is no extra math information in this problem.

We will use the example problem to go over the steps. Step #5 Solve and write your answer in a complete sentence. Check your work! For this math problem, we made a note that a dozen means 12. Then we added the numbers. It is important that students write a complete sentence as the answer to the problem. Lastly, have students check all of their work.

Using this math strategy with a variety of problems, will help strengthen math confidence. There are two sizes of the poster. One to display in class and one to use for student notebooks.