problem and solution for 3rd grade

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How To Teach Problem And Solution

Lesson plans on problem and solution.

Finding lesson plans on problem and solution can be tricky, but with the right activities, it’s a fun unit to teach! These engaging, fun lessons and activities are a great way to teach problem and solution to your students.

Plan your entire Problem And Solution Reading Unit in a snap! Click here to save time planning with these problem and solution activities.

Why Teach Problem and Solution?

We know it’s important for students to identify the problem and solution in the story, but why should we teach it? Teaching our students the different components of fiction texts is important so they can think and dig deeper into what they are reading. They go from just reading words to thinking more about what is actually happening to the characters, what would they do in this situation, etc.

What Does Problem and Solution Mean?

We want to teach our students that the problem in the story is what went wrong and the solution is how the problem was fixed. Here are some important questions we can ask our students while we are reading a text:

• What is the character upset about?
• How did the story change?
• What went wrong in the story?
• Could the problem have been avoided? How?
• How was the problem solved?
• What were the steps taken to solve the problem?
• How would you have solved the problem?

Use Visuals

Using visuals while we teach is important, especially for kids that identify as visual learners. Having a visual, like an anchor chart, helps students see and remember what they are learning.

I also like to use movement anytime I teach a comprehension skill. For example, when teaching students to make connections, they make a pinky promise when they have a connection to the story . When teaching problem and solution, I’ll have students make a thumb to the side, and then for the solution, they’ll make a thumbs up.

Use Engaging Activities Your Students Will Love

When planning a reading unit, finding engaging activities that your students will remember is key .

Become Problem Solvers

With this activity, hide a problem picture inside each manila envelope. In groups, students will take the problem out of the envelope, and together, they’ll discuss what the problem is. Then, they’ll come up with the best solution for that problem. Groups of students will do all six envelopes together. They will love this detective work!

New Character Problems

Exposing our students to different characters and stories is important too. These character cards introduce new characters and then as a class, students discuss the problem and then come up with possible solutions.

Use Reading Centers

Using reading centers that go with your reading comprehension skill help reinforce what your students are learning in class. These are great extension activities to continue to learn and practice their new knowledge. Students will love using these problem and solution centers independently or in your small group.

In this fun center, students will match the problem to the solution. Visuals and text are included.

Find The Solution

This center is a fun one and would work wonderfully as a guided reading warm-up too. Students read the sentence and then move the picture that matches the solution.

Students love sorting games. In this activity, students will look at the problem and then match it to the solution. They will then put the problem card under the “Problem” heading and the solution card under the “Solution” heading.

Graphic Organizers and Flipbooks

Teaching students to write about their reading is important, even in the younger grades. This is another step to help them comprehend the story.

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Problem and Solution

Through close reading passages, text marking activities,and using story maps, plot paths, problem-and-solution worksheets, and other skill-building activities, students get practice identifying problem and solution in both fiction and nonfiction texts. 

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Story Elements: Problem and Solution

About this worksheet:.

This activity helps students identify the problem and solution as part of story elements. Students will read 4 short passages and write the problem and solution in the provided blanks. The activity can be used in 3rd or 4th grade, or where appropraite.

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Engaging ways to teach problem & solution.

When talking about teaching story elements, it is important to note that each of the elements has essential parts. So, when we are teaching any of those elements, we must take a deeper look into the actual standard. Today, we are going to focus on teaching problem and solution, or what is referred to in Common Core terminology as “challenge” and “response.”

I like the terms challenge and response because they encourage us to look into the character over the actual events. How does the character respond to certain events? What are the actions, feelings, thoughts of a character that stem from an event in the story? In Kindergarten and 1st grades, students will be learning how to identify the major characters and events in a story. By 2nd grade, the focus will shift into character response and continues to dive deeper with 3rd and 4th, focusing on specific character feelings, thoughts, and actions. So, how do we teach this?

Make It Personal

Initially, you will want to make it personal. Allow students to connect to the concept by facilitating a discussion on challenges. Have students share with the class, or turn and talk about simple challenges they have faced and how they reacted to them.

Here are a few ideas to start with during the students’ turn and talk.

• Your pencil tip broke.
• You left your homework at school.
• Your science test is this Friday.
• You wake up with a fever.
• You spill juice in the living room.

These simple problems have fairly straightforward solutions. So, students will be able to build connections to the concept before diving into deeper challenges.

A simple t-chart could be made with some of your students’ scenarios as examples. Write the simple problem on the left and the simple solution on the right.

Then, Use Problem and Solution Scenarios

After discussing simple challenges/problems, your students will be ready to read short texts that contain a character facing a challenge. Allow students time to discuss the challenge and the character’s response to it. You can also continue your discussion from earlier, including larger challenges or problems.

Add to your anchor chart (or create a new one) noting the difference in simple problems and solutions and character challenges and responses. *This may be a time for you to discuss bigger challenges that your students have faced in their lifetimes, recalling how students may have responded differently. It is important for students to understand that different people/characters will respond differently to certain events. This is what helps us understand them.

Gather Books with a Strong Problem and Solution Plot

When teaching problem and solutions, read alouds are going to be essential. You will need to collect books that have a strong problem/solution or challenge/response plot. Look for books where the main character faces a clear and difficult challenge. One that allows us to see how the character acts, thinks, feels, etc.

Here are a few affiliate titles I suggest from Amazon!

• Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
• The Name Jar by  Yangsook Choi
• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
• Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion 
• Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill 
• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson 

Each of these stories provides an opportunity for your students to look at character responses. They are great for group discussions about challenges and the different ways to face them.

Ask Students to Find Problem and Solution in Text

Subsequently, students will need to identify and describe the problem/solution within texts. When first learning the skill, students can illustrate what they think the problem and solution look like. Then, they can build their skills by writing their descriptions. The more opportunities students have with communicating their understanding, the better they will become. So, consider allowing them to do this multiple times before moving on.

Similarly, students will need to be able to read and comprehend fiction stories independently. So, the next step is for students to read on-level texts with comprehension questions. Printable or digital passages with skill-specific questions will be a huge help during this stage of the learning process. One of the great things about problem and solution practice is that, even in isolation, it can build students’ understanding of other elements like plot, character, theme, etc. So, include plenty of comprehension passages in your student practice activities.

Suggested Resource Focused on Problem and Solution

The second-grade standard, RL.2.3 is focused specifically on challenge and response. The unit above (some activities seen in the photos in today’s post) is complete with lesson plans, activities, graphic organizers, comprehension passages, task cards, and more, all focused on building this specific skill. However, each of the other grades contains an element of this skill within their own RL.3 standards. It is so important to ensure adequate practice and direct skill-focus for each of our grade levels!

• RL.2.3- Character Response Unit

Other Grade Level Units That Help Build/Continue Skill

• RL.K.3- Kindergarten
• RL.1.3- 1st Grade
• RL.3.3- 3rd Grade
• RL.4.3- 4th Grade

Want to read more about story elements? Check out these blog posts.

• 3 Engaging Story Elements Activities
• Characters- Story Elements Study
• Events- Teaching Events to Students
• All About Setting- Story Elements Study
• Story Elements- Teaching Tips
• Read more about: Common Core Aligned , Comprehension , Reading Blog Posts

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Problem and Solution Text Structure Practice: Free Printable

You can never have too many nonfiction text structure resources!  This skill is incredibly difficult for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to understand because there are so many different things they have to understand in order to be successful with it.  Students need all the practice they can get.  🙂

This no prep freebie (a printable pdf) can help your students get the extra practice they need with the problem and solution text structure.

Get the Problem and Solution Nonfiction Text Structure Resource

Get the free resource below.  It will help introduce and review this text structure with your students.  It starts with short text (sentences), making sure students can actually distinguish between problem and solution and other text structures.

Then, students complete a no prep cut and paste activity that has students sort paragraphs as either having the problem and solution text structure, or not having this text structure.

Finally, upper elementary students will get to practice problem and solution in a longer, one page passage.

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After downloading the freebie, use these free text structure sentence examples  to introduce the 5 main text structures to your upper elementary students.

More Nonfiction Text Structure Practice

Looking for a no prep way to help your students understand and distinguish between all of the text structures?  This Nonfiction Text Structures Resource scaffolds the teaching of 5 text structures in isolation before having students distinguish between the different text structures.

With this resource, students will develop a thorough understanding not only of the problem and solution text structure, but also comparing and contrasting, sequencing, cause and effect, and description.

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35 math problems for 3 rd graders

In 3rd grade, students are introduced to important math concepts that become the building blocks for future mathematical learning. Let’s practice those concepts with this list of math problems for 3rd graders.

Author Katie Wickliff

Published September 25, 2023

• Key takeaways
• In 3rd grade math, students develop a deeper understanding of multiplication and division, fractions, and measurements.
• Word problems for 3rd graders require more advanced comprehension skills.
• Place Value: Understanding place value helps us read and write numbers correctly and compare their values.
• Look for opportunities for your child to practice their math at home–worksheets, math games , or a math practice app will help strengthen new mathematical knowledge. While consistency is key, math practice for 3rd graders should be engaging and fun.

Table of contents

• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Measurement
• Multi-step word problems

Answer sheet

In addition to reviewing and strengthening the skills learned in previous years, 3rd graders learn multiplication and division, explore fractions, calculate measurements, and more. Also, word problems for 3rd graders are often multi-step, requiring students to understand what operations to perform and how to perform them correctly. 

This list of 3rd grade math problems is intended to reinforce concepts students have already been taught. The list is divided into sections: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, measurement, and multi-step problems. These sections allow students to specifically focus their practice, but feel free to skip around and choose the 3rd grade math practice problems that best suit your child’s needs. 

35 Third Grade Math Problems

Section 1: addition.

At the school carnival, Hattie won 25 tickets at ring toss and 40 tickets at balloon darts. How many tickets did she win altogether?

There are 15 baby chicks at the barn. 12 more chicks are born. How many baby chicks are at the barn now?

How can you represent the number line with an equation?

Using the number line, solve 7+ _ = 22

Amir practices basketball three days a week. On Tuesday, he practices basketball for 60 minutes. On Wednesday, he practices for 37 minutes. On Thursday, he practices for 15 minutes. Which expression shows how to find the total number of minutes Amir practiced? Circle the correct answer

Section 2: Subtraction

Using the number line, solve 17-6=

There are 224 Lions fans and 212 Tigers fans at the football game. How many more Lions fans than Tigers fans are at the game?

An animal shelter has 27 kittens available for adoption. On Friday, 8 kittens are adopted. How many kittens are left at the shelter?

Gemma has 130 beads for bracelets. She gives 75 beads to Piper and 6 beads to Claire. Which expression shows how to find the total number of beads Gemma has left? Circle the correct answer.

Using the number line, solve 30- _ = 14

Section 3: Multiplication

Using the picture below, write a multiplication equation to find the number of shapes

Francis and Jane are playing a card game. Francis has 7 cards. Jane has 3 times as many cards as Francis. How many cards does Jane have?

Using the number line to show hops, complete the multiplication sentence

Solve the equation

Mariela has 8 pages of math homework. There are 4 problems on each page. How many total problems does Mariela have for math homework?

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Section 4: Division

Connor has 80 crayons that he will put into crayon boxes. Each crayon box can hold 8 crayons. How many crayon boxes does he need?

Using the number line to show hops, complete the division sentence

Natalie divided 12 marbles into equal groups of 3. Draw a representation to show equal grouping.

Craig’s mom brought 12 cookies to the soccer game. She shared them equally among Craig and 3 teammates. Which expression will solve the problem correctly? Circle the answer.

Section 5: Fractions

Using the number line, work out what A, B and C represent.

Plot ¼ on this number line:

A cheese pizza has 8 slices. Marco ate 2 of the slices. His dad at the rest.  What fraction of the pizza did Marco eat? What fraction of the pizza did his dad eat?

There are 15 flowers in a garden. 10 flowers are yellow and the rest are red. What is the fraction of red flowers in the garden?

Using the number line, find the value of K and L. Which is bigger?

Section 6: Measurement

A school bus is 12 feet long and a car is 4 feet shorter than the bus. How long is the car?

John is 64 inches tall, Mabel is 59 inches tall, and Phoebe is 57 inches tall. How much taller is John than Phoebe?

Use the ruler provided to measure to the nearest ¼ inch:

Find the area of the square below

Find the perimeter of the rectangle below

Section 7: Multi-step word problems

Sarah has two $10 bills. Her sister has one $5 bill. They combine their money to buy a game that costs $22 dollars. How much change will they receive?

Dad baked 36 cookies for the bake sale. Jonas baked 24 cookies for the bake sale. His brother ate 5 cookies before the bake sale started. How many cookies do they have left to sell?

The school bus seats 75 students in all. On Friday, the school bus was full. At the first stop, 7 students got off. At the second stop, 15 students got off. How many children were left on the bus?

George has 25 water balloons. He wants to divide the water balloons equally between himself and 2 friends. How many water balloons will each get? Will there be any water balloons left over?

On Monday, 5 inches of snow fell. On Tuesday, 3 inches of snow fell. On Wednesday, 7 inches of snow fell. The school will have a snow day if it snows 21 inches or more. How many more inches would it have to snow for the school to have a snow day?

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Addition answers

25+40= 65. Hattie won 65 tickets

15+12= 27. 27 baby chicks are at the barn

7+ 15= 22. This should be represented by 15 “hops” on the number line

Subtraction answers

17-6=11. This should be represented by 11 “hops” on the number line

224-212= 12. There are 12 more Lions fans than Tiger fans

27-8= 19. There are 19 kittens left at the shelter.

Multiplication answers

2×3=6; 3×2=6

7×3=21. Jane has 21 cards.

8×4= 32

Division answers

40÷8= 5. It will take Max 5 days to pay Bennett.

Drawing should show 3 groups of 4 marbles each.

Fractions answers

The ¼ should be plotted on the point between 0 and ½

Marco ate 2/8 (or ¼) of the pizza. His dad ate 6/8 (or ¾) of the pizza

5/15 (or ⅓)

K= ⅜, L= 6/8 (or ¾). L is larger.

Measurement answers

12-4=8. The car is 8 feet long.

64-57=7. John is 7 inches taller than Phoebe

8×8=64. The area is 64 yd2

8+8+2+2=20 cm

Multi-step word answer answers

$10+$10= $20. 

$20+$5=$25.

$25-$22= $3

 Sarah and her sister will receive $3 in change

They have 55 cookies left to sell

53 students are left on the bus

George and his friends each get 6 water balloons, with one left over.

• 5 in+ 3 in+ 7 in= 15 in

21 in- 15 in= 6 in

It must snow 6 more inches to get a snow day. 

Lesson credits

Katie Wickliff

Katie holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in both Journalism and English from The University of Iowa. She has over 15 years of education experience as a K-12 classroom teacher and Orton-Gillingham certified tutor. Most importantly, Katie is the mother of two elementary students, ages 8 and 11. She is passionate about math education and firmly believes that the right tools and support will help every student reach their full potential.

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Free Printable Identifying Problems and Solutions in Nonfiction Worksheets for 3rd Grade

Identifying Problems and Solutions in Nonfiction: Discover a collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 3 Reading & Writing teachers, focusing on enhancing students' comprehension and analytical skills.

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Explore printable Identifying Problems and Solutions in Nonfiction worksheets for 3rd Grade

Identifying Problems and Solutions in Nonfiction worksheets for Grade 3 is an essential tool for teachers who aim to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets are specifically designed to help students develop their reading comprehension strategies by focusing on identifying problems and solutions in reading. As a teacher, incorporating these worksheets into your lesson plan will not only improve your students' understanding of nonfiction texts but also boost their overall reading proficiency. By engaging with these worksheets, Grade 3 students will learn to analyze and interpret various nonfiction texts, ultimately becoming more confident and skilled readers.

Quizizz, a popular online platform, offers a wide range of resources for teachers, including Identifying Problems and Solutions in Nonfiction worksheets for Grade 3. This platform allows educators to create interactive quizzes and games that can be easily integrated into their lesson plans, making learning more enjoyable and effective for students. In addition to worksheets, Quizizz also provides various reading comprehension strategies and resources that cater to different learning styles. By utilizing Quizizz in your classroom, you can help your Grade 3 students develop a strong foundation in reading and writing, as well as enhance their problem-solving skills. With Quizizz, you can ensure that your students are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of reading comprehension and become successful learners.

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Third Grade (Grade 3) Problem and Solution Questions

You can create printable tests and worksheets from these Grade 3 Problem and Solution questions! Select one or more questions using the checkboxes above each question. Then click the add selected questions to a test button before moving to another page.

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• The castle had no owner, so the cat's master could claim it.
• The ogre liked to eat cats, so he could not eat anymore.
• The cat was hungry, so he used the mouse as food.
• The king hated mice, so the cat helped him feel safe.
• to help catch a fish
• to get the king to notice him
• to make his master look weak
• to cause the princess to become worried
• a bag and boots
• a bowl of milk and some meat
• a mouse and cheese
• a warm bed and hot fire
• He was allergic to cats.
• The cat was not very nice.
• He thought the cat was a worthless inheritance.
• The cat did not like to catch birds and mice.
• He sang a special song.
• He killed them first.
• He offered them a present.
• He used food as a lure.
• They buy a ring from a pig.
• They dine on mince and quince.
• They are married by a turkey.
• They dance by the light of the moon.
• There is not a preacher.
• They are different species.
• They do not have a ring.
• They become seasick.
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Third Grade Problem-Solving Activities and Exercises

•  / 

It's important for kids to learn problem-solving skills because they'll use them in various school subjects, as well as in life in general. Keep reading for sample activities and exercises that you and your child can do at home to improve his or her problem-solving skills.

What Types of Activities Promote Third Grade Problem-Solving Skills?

Giving your child genuine problems to solve can help him or her to see how schoolwork applies to real life. For example, if you're planning a party, you might have your child use his newly developed skills in multiplication and division to figure out the logistics, such as how many tables and chairs will be needed, based on the number of anticipated guests.

Your child also can apply his or her third-grade math skills during everyday events, like visiting the grocery store. While shopping, you can have your child calculate the price of the items you're purchasing to determine if you're staying within a budget. For instance, would it bust your $18 budget if you bought five boxes of cereal that were priced at $4 a box? Your child could practice his or her multiplication skills by determining that $4 x 5 = $20 and then his or her problem-solving skills by noting that this would, indeed, put you over budget.

Additionally, you might challenge your child to complete fun experiments. For example, you could work with your child to design a container that will protect an egg that's dropping from the top of your house. Your child will have to use creative thinking in order to create a safe container.

Problem-Solving Exercises and Solutions

1. A room has an area of 400 feet. What are some possible dimensions for this room?

2. Ken has to be at work by 8:30 am. His office is 30 minutes away, and he wants to stop for coffee, which typically takes 10 minutes. What time should Ken leave his house in the morning?

3. There are too many guests at Karla's party. There are 44 people present, but Karla only has 22 pieces of cake. How can Karla give each of her guests a piece of cake?

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It's important to understand the components of your child's reading skill requirements, so that you can monitor their progress and be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Read on to learn more about the reading concepts that should be mastered by third graders.

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Trending Post : Books Made Into Movies

21 Good Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

This post may contain affiliate links.

Read mentor text picture books to teach problem and solution text structure. Understanding the problem and solution story structures improves comprehension and helps readers make informed predictions. (As well as helping children see the creative possibilities in problem-solving!)

Of course, almost all stories have a problem and a solution –with the exception of a concept book. So really, you can search out problem and solution examples in any book, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.

When children learn what to expect in a problem and solution story, not only will they be able to predict solutions, but they will also be better able to write their own problem-solution stories. I started teaching this early to my young kids, well before they were school-age because we want our children to become problem solvers. That is an important life skill!

While many picture books model the narrative story structure of problem and solution, these are my favorites to use with kids both at home and in the classroom.

PRINTABLE LIST

Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Problem Solved! by Jan Thomas When Rabbit sees his messy room, he learns that he has HIS OWN PROBLEM SOLVING PORCUPINE! Which seems good at first. But, it turns into a disaster. Because to clean up the blocks, the porcupine flushes them down the toilet. And to clean up his shirts, he feeds them to the goldfish. How can Rabbit get rid of his not-very-helpful problem-solving porcupine?

A House in the Woods  by Inga Moore Little Pig’s den becomes filled with friends, but once Moose arrives, the den collapses. Oh, no! Problem. What will they do to find a solution? Together, the animals build a new house in the woods big enough to fit all the friends.

Enigma  by Graeme Base Bertie needs to find the missing magic show props that have disappeared from his grandpa’s retirement home. Each performer tells him what’s missing. Readers help find the items in the illustrations so that Bertie can find the culprit. Like all his books, Base excels in his detailed illustrations.

7 Ate 9: The Untold Story  by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Ross MacDonald 6 bangs on Private I’s door for help! Because there’s a rumor that 7 is eating other numbers because apparently, 7 ate 9. YIKES! But did 7 really eat 9? Pitch perfect tongue-in-cheek number and word humor will crack you up throughout this suspenseful, funny problem and solution story. (Also on:  Best Picture Book Mysteries .)

The Brownstone  by Paula Scher, illustrated by Stan Mack The Bear family is ready for hibernation but first, they need to figure out what to do about the noise problem. Their solution? All the animals work together to shift apartments so that everyone finds the best apartment for their specific needs. You’ll love the message and illustrations.

Pigeon P.I.  by Meg McLaren What a unique and delightful mystery story! A little canary asks Pigeon P.I. (private investigator) to help her find her missing friends. Then the canary goes missing, too. It’s up to Pigeon to solve the missing bird mystery. The author writes in the style of the old detective shows– punchy with short sentences. The illustrator captures the details, giving kids clues to notice as they read.

One Word from Sophia  by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail This picture book is a great way to teach kids summarizing and word choice as well as a problem-solution text structure! Sophia really wants a pet giraffe for her birthday. As a result, she sets out to convince her family, starting with her mother, a judge. However, Mother says that Sophia’s argument is too verbose. As a result, Sophie tries fewer words with Father. But he says her presentation is too effusive. Sophia continues with each family member until she reaches her last-ditch attempt and says the one word that works: PLEASE.

No Boring Stories!  by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Charles Santoso When a cute little bunny tries to join a group of animal storytellers (mole, weevil, crab, and babirusa), the group doesn’t want to add her to their brainstorming group. As the animals continue their story plans with relatable characters, an inciting incident, rising action, climax, and…. Only the group gets stuck with the ending. That’s when bunny reveals that she likes making up weird (not boring) stories. The group realizes that the bunny has the perfect ending idea. Reluctantly, they agree that she can be part of the group. At least until a “ bunch of adorable frogs and puppies show up next week… ” This book shows plotting as well as the creative strengths of writers working together.

That Fruit Is Mine!  by Anuska Allepuz This is a charming problem and solution story about learning to share and the power of working together. You’ll crack up watching the elephants’ many failed attempts to get delicious-looking fruit off a tree while simultaneously watching a tiny group of mice work together to get the yummy fruit, too. The problem is getting the fruit but only one animal group succeeds in a solution. Who do you think it will be? Great for prediction! (Also on:  Picture Books That Teach Cooperation .)

Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians!   by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by Mark Fearing Mom says that if the boy doesn’t clean his room, he’ll get pests . . . which the boy thinks aren’t all that bad, right? However, things go downhill when barbarian “pests” start arriving. Because they eat everything, use his toys to clean out their ears, and steal blankets and pillows. So there is only one thing to do — CLEAN up his room. It’s a predictable but funny solution with the perfect forgot-to-clean-up twist at the end.

Walrus in the Bathtub  by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Matt Hunt The worst thing about this family’s new home is the walrus in the bathtub. And walrus songs are very, very loud. It’s a big problem. The family tries lots of clever things to get the walrus to leave the bathtub but with no success. So they decide to move. Again. That’s when the walrus shows them his list — “ How to Make Your New Family Feel Welcome ” — which, surprisingly, includes all the things that annoy the family. It turns out the walrus was just trying to be nice. As a result, the family stays with a few *new* rules. This story will make you want your own walrus in a bathtub.

The Thingity-Jig by Kathleen Doherty, illustrated by Kristyna Litten Wordplay, problem-solving, and persistence! One day Bear finds a Thingity-Jig (aka. a couch), which he thinks is wonderful as a sit-on-it, jump-on-it thing.  He asks his friends to help him carry it home but they’re too fast asleep, so Bear figures out some ideas to do it himself. He makes a Rolly-Rumpity! Which is a pack-it-up, heap-it-up, load-it-up thing. That isn’t enough to move the Thingit-Jig so Bear makes something else — a Lifty-Uppity. And then, a Pushy-Poppity. And at daybreak, he arrives back at home where his friends are waking up, with his special Thingity-Jig. Bingity…Bing…Boing…Bear falls asleep.

Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins  by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Clara advocated for justice and equality during a time when Black people weren’t permitted the same rights as white people. As a teacher, she inspired her students to believe that change was possible. Clara and her students went to the Katz drugstore and asked to be served — even though the store didn’t serve black people. She and her students returned day after day despite people yelling and throwing food. Eventually, the Katz store relented and started to serve people of all races. Clara and her students finally could enjoy a Coke and a burger without trouble.

Wangari’s Trees of Peace  by Jeannette Winter Based on the true story of Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, read how Wangari helped her country of Kenya whose forests were all but destroyed. She started planting trees which started a movement motivating other people to plant trees as well. This is an example of how narrative nonfiction book can also teach the plot structure of problem and solution .

Battle Bunny   by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Matt Myers When Alex gets a silly, sappy picture book called Birthday Bunny, he picks up a pencil and turns it into something he’d like to read: Battle Bunny. An adorable rabbit’s journey through the forest becomes a secret mission to unleash an evil plan–a plan that only Alex can stop. Not only does this mentor text model problem and solution, but also voice and revision.

When Pigs Fly  by James Burke One day, an exuberant pig declares that he will fly. His sister observes with disbelief and horror as one attempt after another fails. The brother pig is so disappointed that he decides to give up. That’s when his sister comes up with an idea — something he hasn’t tried before that will help her brother fly — a pretend airplane. The pigs’ expressive illustrations are absolutely perfect as is the message of persistence despite failure.

Piper and Purpa Forever!  by Susan Lendroth, illustrated by Olivia Feng Most stories have a  problem and a solution  but this story is a great example showing a little girl’s ability to creatively  problem solve  with a beautiful solution to her problem. Piper loves her beloved purple sweater, Purpa, and is so sad when she grows out of it. Will she be able to keep her sweater somehow?

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Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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My grandson loves cars, RC cars, sports cars but I don’t find any books about cars, racing, car features, etc. It would be a ‘hook’ to get him to read more. Any suggestions appreciated.

Here is a list of vehicle books. https://imaginationsoup.net/picture-books-vehicle-loving-kids/ . My recommendation for car books is Professor Wooford McPaw’s History of Cars by Elliot Kruszynski.

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3rd Grade Problem And Solution

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Examples of Math Problems for 3rd Grade Teachers

Written by Victoria Hegwood

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Solving Word Math Problems

Why students struggle with word math problems, how to help students master math word problems, make 3rd grade math fun with prodigy.

As adults, many of us chuckle when reading elementary math problems because the idea of Charlie having 87 watermelons paints a funny mental picture. 

But for many students, word math problems can be overwhelming. This is largely because word problems require different skills than traditional math problems. 

And not all children have developed the cognitive and communication skills necessary to solve word problems. 

So, if we know that this is a challenging area for our students, what can we do to help them?

This article will look at students' common problems when solving word math problems and what teachers can do to help them. It will also offer you tips on how to effectively deliver word problems based on topics you are likely teaching about in third-grade math class.

By the end of 3rd grade, students are expected to be able to solve word math problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (four operators). 

Throughout the year, they also learn how to solve two-step problems. This type of problem is one where students will need to solve the first part of the equation and then plug that answer into the second part. 

The other main skill that third graders learn is how to use graphs. Students will be tasked with reading graphs, making their own graphs and using graphs to solve word problems. 

Changing standards and curriculums can make it difficult to keep up with exactly what children should be learning and when. If you want to better understand where your students should be at, check out Komodo Math’s article or Great School’s article on third-grade math skills. 

Let’s go over some examples of these skills to better understand what our students should be learning in the classroom. 

1. Two-Step Problem Example

Let’s start with a division word problem to see an example of a two-step problem. 

Amanda has a jar with 8 chocolate chip cookies and 7 oatmeal cookies. She can only share 3 cookies with each of her friends. How many friends does Amanda have?

Step one is finding out how many cookies Amanda has. To get this answer, 3rd-grade students would need to add together 8 cookies plus 7 cookies. 8+7=15.

Then step two is dividing the number of cookies between her friends. 

15 ÷ 3 = 5. With this equation, the number of people who can be served is determined. Amanda has five friends. 

2. Using three operators: Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction

Not only do students need to know how to use different types of operators, they also need to be able to decide which operations to use when. Multi-step word problems require this extra layer of thinking. Here is an example.

Sarah bought four bags of oranges at the store. There were 8 oranges in each bag. Sarah ate two oranges after giving three oranges to her friend. How many oranges does Jenny have now?

To find the answer, the word problem must be done in two steps:

Step 1: The number of bags (4) is multiplied by the number of oranges (8) to find the total number of oranges.

4x8 = 32 oranges

Step 2: Subtract the oranges Sarah gave her friend (3) and how many she ate (2) from the total of oranges (32).

32-3-2= 27 oranges.

Sarah has 27 oranges now.

3. Focusing on individual math skills: Time word problems

Understanding time, how it works and how to apply math skills to it, is an essential skill. But it can be one that requires quite a bit of practice to master. Let’s look at an example of a time word problem. 

Eddie started cleaning his room at 8:43 am. If he finally finished at 9:32 am, how long did Eddie spend cleaning his room?

Students first need to understand that there are 60 minutes in 1 hour. Then, they can take 60 minus 43 and add the total to 32 to get the total number of minutes.

60 - 43 = 17

17 + 32 = 49. 

Eddie spent 49 minutes cleaning his room.

4. Word problems with tricky wording: Subtraction vs. Addition

With some word problems, the math skill itself isn’t the tricky part. The difficult part is figuring out what the words in the word problem are trying to tell you. Here’s an example.

There were 353 people attending a baseball game after 31 people left. How many people were at the game before the people left?

In this problem, students need to understand that the math skill this problem is looking to test is addition - not subtraction. Students can add 31 + 353 to get the total number of attendees.

353 + 31 = 384 attendees.

5. Testing different operations: Multiplication Word Problems

Sometimes there are multiple ways to solve math problems, but one way is much easier. 

Susie is making cookies for her third-grade class at school. There are 24 students in her class and she made 3 cookies for each person. How many cookies did Susie make in total?

Students need to understand that multiplication is the easiest solution in order to solve this problem. Multiplying 24 x 3 will provide the correct answer.

24 x 3 = 72 cookies total.

While 3rd grade math word problems can be challenging, many students make similar mistakes. Understanding where students often stumble will allow you to help your students succeed.

Difficulty Reading and Understanding the Problem

In order to solve word problems, students don’t just need math skills. They also need reading comprehension skills. 

If students struggle with reading or can’t understand what the words in the problem mean, they won’t even get to the stage where they can apply what they learned in their math lesson. 

Sometimes students can read the problem step-by-step, but the way that it’s worded can seem tricky and confuse students. They may have difficulty mapping out and visualizing the word math problem. We saw this earlier in problem 4 about the baseball game. 

Seeing Only the Numbers

Another common issue is students only looking at the digit numbers and don’t fully read the word math problem. 

Reading and fully understanding the word problem is essential to knowing what operation to use with the numbers. Students also need to be able to understand what order to do the operations in. These skills are important ones to touch on in your lesson plan. 

Problem 6 in this article gives another example of how students need to be able to use the words in a word problem to decide on steps and operators to use. 

Mastering this skill helps students translate word problems into real-world scenarios as they can take numbers and know how to use them to find a solution.

Lacking Math Vocabulary

A lack of math vocabulary can make it difficult for students to understand what the word math problem is asking. It’s so important to lay a foundation of math vocabulary at the beginning of your lesson plan. 

If students don’t know which math operation to use, they will arrive at the wrong answer on math word problem worksheets.

Lacking Numerical Language Skills

Students can also face extra challenges if they have a math-related learning disability . These common challenges include: 

• Mistakes such as adding or omitting numbers that aren’t originally included in the problems
• Difficulty with abstract concepts like time and direction
• Getting inconsistent results when performing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills
• Inability to visualize math problems
• Difficulty remembering math facts, concepts, rules, formulas, rules and procedures
• Inability to memorize math facts
• Difficulty with understanding left and right
• Confusing operations signs or performing them in wrong order

For further reading on how to help students struggling with math skills, check out this article or this article .

So now that you understand what students may be struggling with, let’s dive into some practical ways to help your students conquer word problems. 

The first step is evaluating where your students are at. This can be easy to do with a formative assessment or third grade math worksheets . Then, you can work through the following steps. 

Formalize Your Approach

You should have a well-defined strategy when it comes to helping students understand how to solve word math problems. Try creating a system that simplifies word math problems. 

Prodigy Math Journey can be an effective tool for you to help students solve word math problems. This game has lots of useful features like the ability to monitor your students’ progress. You can also look at specific skills, like the ability to solve two-step word problems. 

It can be very effective at helping students understand how to use various math operations together, like using addition and subtraction or multiplication division.

Make Sure to Read the Entire Word Problem

A simple step that makes a big difference is emphasizing that students should read the entire word problem before attempting to solve it. 

Sometimes students have a lack of flexibility in how they think about math word problems. This makes them think that every problem can be solved exactly the same way with the same procedures. However, they need to approach each problem as a new challenge. 

Teaching students to read the entire math word problem will give students a better understanding of the problem . And this will give them a better chance of solving it on their own.

Identify and Highlight the Relevant Information

It can also be helpful for you to break the problem down for students. Show them how to focus on the most important parts. 

Make sure that your students can recognize the most important numbers and phrases in math problems so they can concentrate on what matters.

Give Them an Equation Without Numbers

Word math problems can be complex for 3rd graders to understand. Sometimes if you can  present the word math problem without the numbers, your students may be better able to extract the correct information. 

This method can help students understand if the problem is an additional word problem, subtraction word problem, a time word problem or something else. Once the student understands what the problem is asking for, add the numbers back in.

This strategy may be more difficult for first-grade or second-grade students, but third-grade math students are at the appropriate level to grasp word problems without numbers.

Help Them Visualize the Problem

Visuals can be used as an interactive tool that can help students see and understand the problem more fully. Visuals often help students see the real world representation of numbers. 

You can use physical objects, drawings and labels to help students visualize the problem and solve the equation. It’s easier to do this with smaller numbers and may be more difficult if students are doing more advanced operations instead of just basic multiplication or division. 

Identify and Compare Similar Word Problems

You can also use word problems with similar equations to help students analyze and solve word math problems.

Similarities between problems help students gain confidence . With repetition, learners won’t feel repeated frustration as they keep working on new skills. 

Once they feel confident with one type of problem, they will be more excited to tackle new challenges and skills in daily math activities.

Teaching word math problems may feel as daunting to you as it does to you as learning how to do them feels to your students. While there are many challenges, there are also approaches and strategies that can make it easier and more fun for everyone. 

If you’re looking for a great program to make the whole process more fun and less stressful, Prodigy is here to help! Prodigy is a game-based learning tool that can help deliver these word problems through gameplay that puts fun at the heart of learning. 

In addition to being a fun activity that your students will be excited to do, Prodigy has also been shown to reduce students’ math anxiety and build math confidence. It also aligns with US state standards for 1st-8th grades and automatically adapts to each student. 

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Engaging Students With Challenge Based Learning

High school students can participate in hands-on, relevant projects that provide effective solutions to problems in their community.

Challenge Based Learning (CBL) is a powerful pedagogical approach to reengaging students in the classroom. CBL promotes active participation, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and, more important, a sense of purpose among students. By engaging in hands-on, relevant tasks, students develop the necessary skills to thrive in a future where continuous learning is essential. 

The Challenge Based Learning Framework can be adapted to any subject or grade level and provides a structure in which students identify a problem, ask questions, and conduct research that leads to a proposed solution. Then, they put that solution into action to create change in their school or community. When students get to identify a problem, they’re more invested in the learning process and outcome.

Come Up With the Big Idea and Essential Question

For a CBL project, you need a big idea that captures students’ imagination and interest and addresses a real-world issue like the environment or inequity. In my anatomy and physiology classes, our big idea is always health and wellness .

At the beginning of the year, I ask my students, “What are the health and wellness issues that impact our community and world?” Once they’ve generated plenty of thoughts, they develop a “How can we…” question based on those issues. I have them share their questions in Padlet to promote discussion and use these questions throughout the year to develop challenges within our units of study.

Investigate, Implement, and Act

The investigate stage of CBL encourages students to explore and learn more about the problem. The process supports research skills and promotes a good understanding of the challenge itself. For my classes, the investigation phase usually takes us one full class period for research and planning. Next, I have them put together a quick presentation to pitch their ideas to the class so we can vote on the best option. 

Students engage in collaborative discussions, look for unique perspectives, and develop a plan that would address the challenge. It’s important for them to be well-informed about the problem in order to suggest a solution.

The implementation phase of CBL is the moment it all comes together. After investigating, discussing, and planning, we finally have a plan of action and are ready to move forward. This phase of dealing with real-world problems involves collaborative teamwork and effective communication and also promotes a sense of accountability, adaptability, and resilience within students. 

Process Snapshot

Here’s how we go through the CBL process in my class:

Big idea: Health and wellness

Essential question: How can we improve mental health in our community?

Investigate: With a solid question in place, students need more of a background in mental health in order to know how to improve it. I typically give them some research questions to get them started but allow them to follow any path that interests them. Here are some prompts I’ve given them:

• How do certain mental health conditions alter brain chemistry?
• How can your environment impact your mental health?
• What are some healthy ways to reduce stress and anxiety?
• How does social media play a role in mental health?

During this phase, we do activities that help students learn more about the topic, such as a sheep brain dissection, reaction-time experimentation, and reflex testing. These activities allow me to cover the content of the class but still connect to the topic.

We discuss how mental health impacts brain structures and how age can alter reaction times and reflexes, and we identify good solutions to maintaining a healthy brain.

Implementation: After researching and learning more, each group comes up with an idea of how to accomplish our essential question and pitches it to the class. They create a presentation that includes all the details of their idea and implementation plan. 

Choose a Project and Reflect

Groups present on a range of topics and ideas such as developing intramural sports teams to give students an outlet to reduce stress, putting on a holiday party at the local senior center, and incorporating mental health days into classes. After each group presents, we vote and decide to move forward with two big projects. 

This year, the first project was a holiday party at our local senior center. The group that presented the idea reached out to the senior center for approval and organized the whole event. They designed games and competitions, all the while learning about brain development, age-appropriate activities, and project planning. More than 35 anatomy students volunteered to host the event on their day off from school. Each group ran a station for the seniors to attend. The senior center had more than 75 people show up that day. Watching my kids interact with the elderly community was the best part of my year to that point. None of this event counted toward any grade. They were there because they wanted to be.

The second project we’ll implement is a mental health fair. Many students had great ideas of little things to do, so someone suggested that we just host a festival of some sort. We contacted a local nonprofit, The Defensive Line , and will host an event with them this May. Groups will host tables that feature pet adoption, crafts, journaling, pickup sports games, art therapy, and yoga. 

At the conclusion of any activity, I ask students to reflect on their learning. A typical reflection is in the form of a survey that asks them, “What did you like? What would you change? How could we improve it for next time?” This always helps me to make improvements for the next one. I look forward to hearing what they have to say this year.

Be Brave—It’s Worth It

Change is hard. Doing something out of your comfort zone is hard for most people. 

At the beginning of the year, when my students suggested we do a CBL event each month , I was a bit overwhelmed and anxious. However, I knew it would be for the good of everyone involved. Students get opportunities to hold leadership positions and build strong relationships within our classroom and community. We’ve run six mini CBLs this year and have two more left, with the mental health fair as the finale. My students have stepped up—doing things beyond my expectations to make these events successful and fun.

We want our students to learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of technology, improve their problem-solving skills, and make a positive impact on society . Embracing change in education isn’t merely about staying current, it’s about instilling a particular mindset within ourselves and modeling the values of lifelong learning, creative thinking, and a willingness to take risks.

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The 3-body problem is real, and it’s really unsolvable

Oh god don’t make me explain math

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Everybody seems to be talking about 3 Body Problem , the new Netflix series based on Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past book trilogy . Fewer people are talking about the two series’ namesake: The unsolvable physics problem of the same name.

This makes sense, because it’s confusing . In physics, the three-body problem attempts to find a way to predict the movements of three objects whose gravity interacts with each of the others — like three stars that are close together in space. Sounds simple enough, right? Yet I myself recently pulled up the Wikipedia article on the three-body problem and closed the tab in the same manner that a person might stagger away from a bright light. Apparently the Earth, sun, and moon are a three-body system? Are you telling me we don’t know how the moon moves ? Scientists have published multiple solutions for the three-body problem? Are you telling me Cixin Liu’s books are out of date?

All I’d wanted to know was why the problem was considered unsolvable, and now memories of my one semester of high school physics were swimming before my eyes like so many glowing doom numbers. However, despite my pains, I have readied several ways that we non-physicists can be confident that the three-body problem is, in fact, unsolvable.

Reason 1: This is a special definition of ‘unsolvable’

The three-body problem is extra confusing, because scientists are seemingly constantly finding new solutions to the three-body problem! They just don’t mean a one-solution-for-all solution. Such a formula does exist for a two-body system, and apparently Isaac Newton figured it out in 1687 . But systems with more than two bodies are, according to physicists, too chaotic (i.e., not in the sense of a child’s messy bedroom, but in the sense of “chaos theory”) to be corralled by a single solution.

When physicists say they have a new solution to the three-body problem, they mean that they’ve found a specific solution for three-body systems that have certain theoretical parameters. Don’t ask me to explain those parameters, because they’re all things like “the three masses are collinear at each instant” or “a zero angular momentum solution with three equal masses moving around a figure-eight shape.” But basically: By narrowing the focus of the problem to certain arrangements of three-body systems, physicists have been able to derive formulas that predict the movements of some of them, like in our solar system. The mass of the Earth and the sun create a “ restricted three-body problem ,” where a less-big body (in this case, the moon) moves under the influence of two massive ones (the Earth and the sun).

What physicists mean when they say the three-body problem has no solution is simply that there isn’t a one-formula-fits-all solution to every way that the gravity of three objects might cause those objects to move — which is exactly what Three-Body Problem bases its whole premise on.

Reason 2: 3 Body Problem picked an unsolved three-body system on purpose

Henri Poincaré’s research into a general solution to the three-body problem formed the basis of what would become known as chaos theory (you might know it from its co-starring role in Jurassic Park ). And 3 Body Problem itself isn’t about any old three-body system. It’s specifically about an extremely chaotic three-body system, the exact kind of arrangement of bodies that Poincaré was focused on when he showed that the problem is “unsolvable.”

[ Ed. note: The rest of this section includes some spoilers for 3 Body Problem .]

In both Liu’s books and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem , humanity faces an invasion by aliens (called Trisolarans in the English translation of the books, and San-Ti in the TV series) whose home solar system features three suns in a chaotic three-body relationship. It is a world where, unlike ours, the heavens are fundamentally unpredictable. Periods of icy cold give way to searing heat that give way to swings in gravity that turn into temporary reprieves that can never be trusted. The unpredictable nature of the San-Ti environment is the source of every detail of their physicality, their philosophy, and their desire to claim Earth for their own.

In other words, 3 Body Problem ’s three-body problem is unsolvable because Liu wanted to write a story with an unsolvable three-body system, so he chose one of the three-body systems for which we have not discovered a solution, and might never.

Reason 3: Scientists are still working on the three-body problem

Perhaps the best reason I can give you to believe that the three-body problem is real, and is really unsolvable, is that some scientists published a whole set of new solutions for specific three-body systems very recently .

If physicists are still working on the three-body problem, we can safely assume that it has not been solved. Scientists, after all, are the real experts. And I am definitely not.

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There Are Big Plans for 3 Body Problem Season 2

It's not confirmed yet—but the creators already have some major ideas.

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The following story contains spoilers for 3 Body Problem Season 1.

ANYONE WHO'S WATCHED Netflix's 3 Body Problem can agree on one thing: it is ambitious. Based on the bestselling trilogy of books from Chinese author Cixin Liu and coming from the Game of Thrones showrunner team of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss along with True Blood and The Terror writer Alexander Woo, it's very clear that Netflix's take on 3 Body Problem was planned as just the beginning. The story of science, political subterfuge, and the eventual invasion of Earth by an unknown alien race is just barely touched on in the first season of the show (and it's the same way in The Three Body Problem, the first of Liu's books). But will the people behind the show get a chance to follow through and complete the story?

We're still in early days—the show hasn't even been out for a month—but we're still awaiting official word on whether a Season 2 of 3 Body Problem will get the green light. But while we're not certain whether or not that will come to fruition, one thing is also for sure: the people making the show want to do more. Benioff and Weiss have worked on a couple things for Netflix in the years since signing their overall deal, including the underrated Sandra Oh dramedy series The Chair, but it's clear that 3 Body is their next Game of Thrones level project.

All we have to wait for now is whether or not they'll get the chance to keep telling the story. Here's what we know now about a potential Season 2 of 3 Body Problem.

Will 3 Body Problem have a Season 2?

3 Body Problem hasn't yet gotten a Season 2 renewal from Netflix.

Benioff and Weiss have talked about their ambitions for the show, though—and also the risk of such a big, expensive, high-concept project. “Honestly, the ending of the third book is one of my favorite endings of any giant saga of all time, so we want to get there,” Benioff told Empire in an interview . “The hardest thing is always the first season. Can we justify the big investment from Netflix? I feel like this will grow as it grows. I’m hopeful.”

On the Inside Total Film Podcast , Woo mapped out a tentative plan forward for the show, should it be able to continue. "We have some really strong ideas about what to do in a Season 2, and then it’s a little hazier down the line," he said. "But we want to get to the end. We want to get to the end of the trilogy, whether that's three or four, or some other number."

As far as on-screen talent goes, the sentiment has been similar. In an interview with Men's Health , Benedict Wong, who plays Clarence/Da Shi, said that he's not heard anything about a Season 2 yet (citing that Netflix has to wait for the numbers on Season 1 to come in), but that he'd "absolutely" want to return if given the opportunity. "It's here to be told, it's here to be told," he said.

What would 3 Body Problem Season 2 be about?

As outlined above, Season 2 of 3 Body Problem would continue to tell the story of author Cixin Liu's trilogy that began with The Three Body Problem. The trilogy, referred to commonly as the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, wasn't adapted 100% directly in the first season of Netflix's show, though. There were some major changes , which will have to continue to trickle down as the story is told.

Tor Books Three-Body Problem Boxed Set: The Dark Forest, Death's End (The Three-Body Problem Series)

While there were some obvious changes from page to screen—characters split up/changed/expanded, video game technology altered—there were also aspects of the second book (titled The Dark Forest) and the third book (titled Death's End ) that leaked into the first season adaptation as well.

This is all to say that if you want to know what will happen, exactly, in Season 2 of 3 Body Problem (if there is one), then you'll have to check out the books. But, broadly, you can know that the story of the San-Ti coming to invade Earth continues to play out over the course of the 400 years until their arrival. The humans continue planning to thwart their eventual invasion, including the Wallfacer program, that we begin to see play out at the end of Season 1 with Saul (Jovan Adepo).

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Rat City Art Festival to address rodent problem, turn traps into art

By Mike Sullivan

April 3, 2024 / 9:05 PM EDT / CBS Boston

BOSTON - An art festival in Allston and Brighton is looking to bring some beauty to the neighborhood's rat problem. They are paying artists $100 to decorate ten rat traps that will be placed in the area. The event is aptly named the Rat City Art Festival. Their goal is to give artists a place to showcase and sell their art, while also working to find solutions to the rat problem.

"Everyone has a rat story"

"In my first apartment, I had a rat die within our walls. My wife, one of her neighbors had a rat die in her oven. I think everyone has a rat story living in Allston," jokes Rat City Art Festival Founder Ricky Meinke. "We are not just here to celebrate off a fun and debated name of Rat City. We are also here to address some of those rat problems too."

Their decorated traps will not have poison in them, but festival founders hope the city may take notice, and add a bit of art to any real traps that they lay around town. The idea is similar to utility box art.

"Maybe when the rat czar is present in the city of Boston, this is something we pitch to them to collaborate with the city on it," says Mienke. "The days leading up to the festival, we are actually going to be hosting a rat walk in Allston Brighton to visit the rat hot spots, and to talk about how we can mitigate some of the rat issues."

Ten artists selected  

Meinke and his team are actively accepting applications to be one of the ten artists selected for the project. You can apply through their website . Mary Irvin is hoping to get selected. She lives in the area and produces work out of her apartment.

"I used to live in a garden level unit, and they were just always in my business. New York rats are big and feisty, while ours are smart and conniving. They get a bad rap. The Bubonic Plague didn't help," laughs Irvin. "This is where the artists live and the creatives live. Part of the reason is, it is a little dirty."

Artists will be able to showcase and sell their art at the festival. They also have a program to help fund some local artists.

"If you are an emerging artist in the area, and you need money for flyers, or just to get to a gig, we are providing five $200 grants to artists in the area," tells Meinke. 

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