Can you relate to this situation? It's the middle of the school year. You present the next lesson in your math curriculum and switch from slide to slide. Some students are fully engaged. They complete the work within seconds and are ready for the next slide. Some students are bored and uninterested in practicing math problems that follow the same daily routine. Of course, a few students are completely off task and are unaware that you're teaching a math lesson right now! Your solution is learning to ask a variety of engaging math questions. Present math problems using these nine question stems and keep your students curious as they discuss their mathematical thinking.
Nine Interesting Question Stems for Math Lessons
These question stems can be easily implemented as an introduction to your math lessons to get students thinking and talking right from the start. Consider using them as a daily “Question of the Day” routine, which students can answer individually or discuss in pairs. This is also a great opportunity to integrate them into math journals, where students can work out their reasoning and justify their solutions. For centers or small groups, these prompts can spark rich discussions and collaboration as students tackle the problems together. By regularly rotating between these question stems, you’ll foster an engaging math environment that encourages creativity and problem-solving, keeping your students eager to dive into the next challenge.
1. Would You Rather?
This question stem challenges students to solve two different problems and then compare their answers to choose the more desirable outcome. It promotes critical thinking as students must justify their choice, explaining why one answer is preferable to the other. This is a great way to personalize math problems by connecting them to real-life scenarios, like deciding between saving money or spending on a specific item.
2. Solve It Two Ways
Encourage students to solve one problem using two different methods, such as mental math and traditional algorithms. This approach builds flexibility in problem-solving and helps students see that there’s often more than one way to arrive at the same answer. By discussing the different strategies, students also gain insight into how their peers think and approach problems.
3. Find the Error
Present a problem that contains a mistake and ask students to figure out where it went wrong. This question stem sharpens students’ attention to detail, teaching them to carefully analyze each step of a math solution. It's also an opportunity to reinforce the importance of perseverance and self-correction in math.
4. Number of the Day
Choose a number and have students solve a set of five problems related to that number. The questions can range from addition and subtraction to factors or place value, depending on the skill level. This routine helps students build a stronger connection to numbers while developing a deeper understanding of various mathematical concepts.
5. Hide and Seek
In this playful approach, students determine which number is hidden under a colored square based on clues. It’s a great way to incorporate problem-solving and logic into math practice, as students must use reasoning to uncover the hidden number. This activity also adds an element of mystery, making math more interactive and engaging.
6. Which One Doesn’t Belong?
Present a set of numbers or shapes, and ask students to analyze how they relate to each other and identify which one is the outlier. This stem encourages critical thinking and justification as students explain their reasoning. The beauty of this activity is that multiple answers can often be correct, depending on the explanation, fostering creativity in mathematical thinking.
7. Two Truths and One Lie
Provide three math problems or statements, where two are correct, and one is false. Students must solve each problem and determine which one is the "lie." This stem not only engages students with problem-solving but also adds an element of fun and challenge as they try to "spot the lie."
8. The Answer Is...
In this twist, students are given the answer first and must create a problem or question that leads to that answer. This reverse problem-solving approach strengthens their understanding of operations and numbers, as they need to think backward from the solution. It also fosters creativity, allowing students to create their own unique problems.
9. Magic Square
Magic squares are puzzles where students use math skills to fill in missing squares. In certain problems, they must ensure that all rows, columns, and diagonals add up to the same sum. In other problems, they must look for patterns that exist between two grids. This activity builds number sense and problem-solving skills as students experiment with different combinations to solve the puzzle. It also encourages persistence and logical thinking.
Creative Questions Are Perfect for Gifted Students
These math prompts are particularly effective for gifted and talented students because they challenge their higher-order thinking and creativity. Gifted learners often crave opportunities to explore concepts in greater depth and complexity, and these question stems provide the flexibility to do just that.
For example, solving problems in multiple ways or creating their own math problems (as in "Solve It Two Ways" or "The Answer Is...") encourages divergent thinking and allows students to approach math from different angles. Activities like "Find the Error" and "Which One Doesn’t Belong?" require careful analysis and justification, giving gifted students the chance to sharpen their critical thinking and reasoning skills.
These prompts foster independence and creativity, allowing students to explore open-ended problems with multiple possible solutions, which keeps them engaged and motivated.
Check out the Contents of these 101 Math Questions of the Day:
✏️ Number and Operations in Base Ten Warm Ups: Place Value, Addition, Subtraction, Comparing Numbers, Rounding, Word Problems
✏️ Multiplication and Division Warm Ups: Math Facts, Multiplication Strategies, Division Strategies, and Word Problems
✏️ Fraction Warm Ups: Modeling Fractions, Equivalent Fractions, Comparing Fractions, Adding/Subtracting Fractions, Multiplying a Fraction by a Whole Number
✏️ Decimal Warm Ups: Modeling Decimals, Converting Fractions to Decimals, Comparing Decimals, Adding/Subtracting Decimals, Word Problems with Decimals
✏️ Measurement Warm Ups: Metric Conversions, Customary Conversions, Area/Perimeter, Graphs and Data, Line Plots
✏️ Geometry Warm Ups: Classifying Shapes, Classifying Angles, Measuring Angles, Adding Angles, Identifying Symmetry
Use these Morning Work Warm Up Slides in so many ways!
✅ Present a slide at the beginning of your math lessons. Invite students to answer the question in a journal or on PearDeck/Nearpod.
✅ Invite students to collaborate with peers on these paperless journal prompts.
✅ Print the worksheets or share slides digitally with gifted and talented students. These questions of the day make excellent enrichment activities!
Hear about these Paperless Math Prompts from Educators Like You!
⭐️ “Love these challenges to get the students started each day!”
⭐️ “The students loved the graphics of this. It made it more fun for morning work.”
⭐️ “I love the way these math logic puzzles are laid out and put together.”
⭐️ “Love the critical thinking!”
Find Answers to Your Questions about these Paperless Math Prompts:
✋ What types of daily questions or math prompts are included?
Would You Rather? (Solve two problems to find the more desirable quantity)
Solve It Two Ways (Solve one problem using two different methods)
Find the Error (Determine the mistake made on the problem shown)
Number of the Day (Solve five problems about a given number).
Hide and Seek (Determine which number is hiding under a colored square)
Which One Doesn’t Belong? (Analyze how numbers relate to each other)
2 Truths & 1 Lie (Find the math problem that is false)
The Answer Is… (Write a question for a problem to which you are given the answer)
Magic Square (Decipher the code and use math skills to fill in the missing squares)