Bar Model
The Bar Model is one of the most frequently used tool in the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach. Sometimes called Model Method, it is a very powerful visual problem-solving heuristic that serves as a foundation to algebraic thinking, and is used as early as first grade.
About Bar Models
Bar Modeling uses rectangular bars to represent relative quantitative values, and was first developed by the Ministry of Education in Singapore in the 1980s to help students solve word problems. It is a very powerful visual problem-solving heuristic that serves as a foundation to algebraic thinking.
Bar Model Related Posts
Addition and Subtraction of Fractions Part 2 – Related Fractions
Last week, we talked about introducing the topic of addition and subtraction of…
Addition and Subtraction of Fractions Part 1 – Like Fractions
Do your students do this? What went wrong? Singapore…
Tip of the Week – Perimeter Question
Have you seen the perimeter question that has been widely shared on social…
The butterfly method in fractions and the danger of overemphasizing tricks
Butterfly Method? I first got to know about the…
Selected Worksheets
(Worksheets are part of our Members’ Resources)
Grade 2:
- G2S1W8-MW1 Bar Models Part-Part-Whole Model
- G2S1W8-MW2 Bar Models Comparison Model
- G2S1W9-MW Bar Models Two Step Problems
- G2S2W12-MW Bar Model Multiplication Division
- G2S2W13-MW Bar Model Multiplication Division
Grade 3:
- G3S1W8-MW Bar Modeling
- G3S1W16-MW Bar Models Multiplication and Division
- G3S1W17-MW Bar Models Division
Grade 4:
- G4S1W8-MW Modeling Division with regroup
- G4S1W15-MW Word Problems_Add Subtract Fraction_Fraction of a set
Grade 5:
Looking for full grade lesson plans?
Join our membership program. Start your Free Trial!
Our full-year Singapore math resources are aligned with major Singapore based textbooks, such as Math in Focus, Primary Mathematics etc. These resources, including lesson plans, videos, worksheets and more, are available for unlimited access (all grades) in our membership program.
Using Bar Models
Bar Modeling, or sometimes called Model Method, uses rectangular bars to represent relative quantitative values, and was first developed by the Ministry of Education in Singapore in the 1980s to help students solve word problems. It is a very powerful visual problem-solving heuristic that serves as a foundation to algebraic thinking, and is used as early as first grade.
At lower elementary levels,
bar models help them visualize relationships between quantities that may belong to two different entities. For example, the problem below is usually taught by bar modeling in second grade.
There are 824 girls in the auditorium. There are 125 more girls than boys. How many boys are there?
Bar models are also used when solving multiplication, division or fraction of a set problems in upper elementary. Here, students are introduced to the concept of defining a “unit” in the bar models, which is a basic place-holder for some unknown quantity. The following example illustrates how the bar model can help students visualize a word problem.
Amy has some flowers. Bob has 3 times as many flowers as Amy. Together, they have 120 flowers. How many flowers does Amy have?
Bar models are also helpful when introducing algebra in middle school. Since they learn to visualize unknown “units” in bar models early on, the students are more comfortable dealing with symbols as temporary place-holders and can also more easily visualize word problems. For example, the same problem above may also appear as an algebra question in middle school.
Free Worksheets
Join our mailing lists to get a set of unique Singapore math cheatsheets!