Hands-On Math: Tape Diagrams/Bar Models Micro Course

Make Word Problems Visual with Tape Diagrams and Bar Models

Transform word problems into visual stories students can understand using tape diagrams, also known as bar models. This hands-on micro course helps educators use simple, proportional drawings to make relationships, parts and wholes, and unknown quantities visible. Participants will explore how tape diagrams can support concepts such as fractions, ratios, and percentages while helping students identify what is known, determine what is unknown, and select appropriate operations - building confidence and independence in mathematical problem-solving.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Explain how tape diagrams and bar models represent mathematical relationships in word problems.
• Construct visual models that identify known and unknown quantities and part-to-whole relationships.
• Apply tape diagrams to support problem-solving with concepts such as fractions, ratios, and percentages.
• Guide students in connecting visual models to appropriate mathematical operations and reasoning.

Target Audience:

• Math Teachers and Coaches

Format:

• Self-paced eLearning course with interactive knowledge checks and real-world scenarios.
• The estimated time to take the course is 15 minutes.
• Downloadable Lesson plans to support student reasoning using a tape diagram/bar model geared towards 5th grade, and can be adjusted to meet the needs of your students.
• A completion certificate is available after completing the course.