This document provides instruction on constructing responses to math word problems using the RICE strategy: R - Read and restate the problem. I - Illustrate the problem with a diagram or picture. C - Calculate the solution using math operations. E - Explain how the problem was solved and evaluate the work. Examples are provided of using RICE to solve a word problem about the number of palm trees needed around a rectangular pool. The document emphasizes thoroughly explaining the steps and showing all work.

1. R-I-C-E
IS NICE!

2. You will be hearing the words
“CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE” this year.

3. What is a constructed response?
• Let’s break down each word to understand
what it means…..
CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE
make/create/build answers

4. Now that you understand the
words, how would you finish this
sentence?
A constructed response
is………..
an answer that I create when I
am asked a question.

5. Here are some questions for you…..
What is your favorite season?
Draw a picture to illustrate
your favorite season and
explain WHY it is your favorite
season.

6. Some of you might construct your
response this way:
My favorite season is fall because I like to see
the leaves changing colors. I love to rake
leaves with my family, and I like to go to the
pumpkin patch.

7. IT IS IMPORTANT to construct our
responses to questions in MATH.
Is this what you are thinking?
There is only ONE answer
to a MATH question!

8. There are different ways to SHOW
HOW you worked out your answer!

9. We are going to use the “RICE” strategy to
help us work and thoroughly explain how we
solve our math problems:
R
I
C
E

10. R – READ & RESTATE
I - ILLUSTRATE
C - CALCULATE
E – EVALUATE HOW YOU
CALCULATE ~
EXPLAIN ~
EVALUATE
EVERYTHING!

11. READ
• READ AND REREAD THE PROBLEM.
• WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE PROBLEM?
–HINT: PICTURE IT IN YOUR MIND LIKE
YOU ARE READING A STORY.
• WHAT QUESTION(S) ARE BEING ASKED?
• WHAT ARE THE KEYWORDS?
• WHAT FACTS ARE GIVEN?

12. REREAD THE
PROBLEM.
PICTURE IT
FIND FACTS.
LIKE A STORY.
READ
WHAT
FIND QUESTION(S)
KEYWORDS. ARE BEING
ASKED?

13. Let’s READ this problem:
Mary’s pool is shaped like a rectangle.
The length is 30 feet long and the
width is 20 feet long. Her father
wants to put a border of palm trees
around the perimeter of the pool.
The palm trees will be planted 10
feet apart, and there will be a palm
tree in each corner. How many palm
trees will be planted?

14. READ
Mary’s pool is shaped like
1. Read and reread. a rectangle. The length is
30 feet long and the width
2. Picture it like a is 20 feet long. Her father
story. wants to put a border of
3. What question(s) palm trees around the
perimeter of the pool.
are being asked? The palm trees will be
4. Find keywords. planted 10 feet apart, and
there will be a palm tree in
5. Find facts. each corner. How many
palm trees will be
planted?

15. Take a minute to REALLY picture &
understand the information in the problem:

16. Next, RESTATE the problem in your
own words.
TAKE A MINUTE TO REREAD:
Mary’s pool is shaped like a
rectangle. The length is
Now share the
30 feet long and the width problem with
is 20 feet long. Her father
wants to put a border of your partner
palm trees around the
perimeter of the pool. in your own
The palm trees will be
planted 10 feet apart, and words.
there will be a palm tree
in each corner. How many
palm trees will be
planted?

17. ILLUSTRATE
Draw a picture, diagram, or table.
Draw something that will help you see and
solve the problem.
Remember to LABEL your illustration.

18. What can I ILLUSTRATE to help me see
and solve the problem?
1. Mary’s pool is shaped like
a rectangle.
2. The length is 30 feet long.
3. The width is 20 feet long.
30 feet 4. Her father wants to put a
border of palm trees
around the perimeter of
the pool.
20 feet 5. The palm trees will be
planted 10 feet apart.
6. There will be a palm tree
in each corner.
7. How many palm trees
will be planted?

19. Is there any need to draw a picture of
a palm tree?
• The marks and dots
work fine.
• We want to illustrate
in the most efficient
way.
• EFFICIENT means to
make the BEST USE
of our time! 

20. When we work in class we may be able
to illustrate in color.
30 feet
20 feet

21. On a constructed
response test, we
are only allowed
to have paper and
a plain pencil, so
our illustration
might look like
this…..

22. Remember…..
Everyone illustrates in his/her
own way. There is no RIGHT
WAY or WRONG WAY to
illustrate IF it helps us to see
and solve the problem.

23. CALCULATE
• Plan and solve using a math
operation and strategy.
Sometimes you will use more
than one operation or more
than one strategy.
• Use that strategy to help you
solve the problem.
• Show all of your calculations.

24. CALCULATE
I’m putting an “X” to I have placed marks to
help me remember represent the places I
which ones have been would put a palm tree –
counted.
every 10 feet.
30 feet
The problem told me that
Mary’s father was going
to have a palm tree on
20 feet every corner.
Next, I need to count to see
how many palm trees in
all.

25. There will be 10
palm trees in all.

26. EXPLAIN
• Write out an explanation of how you solved the
problem.
• Explain the strategy you chose and why you
chose it.
• Write out any thoughts about why you solved it
that way.
• BE SURE to include all of the steps that you used!
Your answer will not be complete if you leave out
any steps.
• HINT: USE YOUR KEYWORDS FROM THE
PROBLEM TO HELP YOU EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

27. Here is how I would EXPLAIN my answer for the
problem we just worked.
I started by drawing a picture of the pool in the shape of a
rectangle. I labeled the length 30 feet and the width 20 feet. I
know that Mary’s dad is going to plant trees on the perimeter
and the perimeter is the edge of the pool. He is planting a tree
on every corner so I drew dots on the corners of the rectangle. I
knew that the trees will be 10 feet apart so I drew a line to show
where the trees would be. Since the length was 30 feet, I started
at the corner and I knew that I would divide that side into 3
sections so I drew one line for 10 feet and then another line for
10 feet. After 10 more feet I would end at the corner. The width
was 20 feet so I started at the corner and I knew I would divide
20 feet into 2 sections with 1 line. I did the same thing on the
other sides of the rectangle. I counted all of the lines and dots
and found out that there would be 10 trees planted around the
perimeter of the pool.

28. Look at how I used my keywords to help me
explain my answer.
I started by drawing a picture of the pool in the shape of a
rectangle. I labeled the length 30 feet and the width 20 feet. I
know that Mary’s dad is going to plant trees on the perimeter
and the perimeter is the edge of the pool. He is planting a tree
on every corner so I drew dots on the corners of the rectangle. I
knew that the trees will be 10 feet apart so I drew a line to show
where the trees would be. Since the length was 30 feet, I started
at the corner and I knew that I would divide that side into 3 parts
so I drew one line for 10 feet and then another line for 10 feet.
After 10 more feet I would end at the corner. The width was 20
feet so I started at the corner and I knew I would divide 20 feet
into 2 sections with 1 line. I did the same thing on the other
sides of the rectangle. I counted all of the lines and dots and
found out that there would be 10 trees planted around the
perimeter of the pool.

29. EVALUATE
When you EVALUATE you CHECK
your work to see if it is
accurate and complete.
Sometimes I will ask you to
EVALUATE someone else’s
work

30. I am going to show you
a list of questions that
will help you to
evaluate your work.

31. EVALUATE EVERYTHING!
Did I READ the problem at least twice? Do I understand it?
Did I RESTATE the question being asked?
Did I underline or highlight the keywords in the problem?
Did I underline or highlight the facts that are given?
Did I choose a strategy & operation carefully?
Did I ILLUSTRATE my work?
Did I evaluate my CALCULATIONS?
Are my EVALUATIONS correct?
Did I EXPLAIN how I solved the problem?
Did I include all of the steps I took to solve it?
Is my writing clear?
Did I label my illustrations or diagrams or tables?
Does my answer make sense?
Did I answer the exact question(s) being asked?

32. R – READ & RESTATE
I - ILLUSTRATE
C - CALCULATE
E – EVALUATE HOW YOU
CALCULATE ~
EXPLAIN ~
EVALUATE
EVERYTHING!