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Elementary Students Exploration of the Structure of a Word Problem Using Representations

Word problems are frequently used in school mathematics to offer students the opportunity to explore mathematical relationships and structure. However, previous studies have reported that word problems are misused or abused in ways that overlook the original intent of exploring mathematical structure and relationship. This study aims to share a series of a small group of third-grade students’ explorations while debating the mathematical relationships in solving a word problem with representations over several days. Although the exploration took longer than planned, it was worthwhile. It offered students a space to express confusion, showcase their knowledge, test conjectures, and imagine alternative contexts. Ultimately, these explorations helped students recognize multiple relationships within the context of specific problems while bringing their attention to real-world related applications. The retrospective analysis of class episodes offers insight into learning opportunities to support students in exploring mathematical structure and relationships while discussing and debating the word problem context.