Solving Open-Ended Maths Problems POWERPOINT is the perfect launching point for guiding your students through the process of approaching open-ended mathematical challenges. With clear structure and scaffolded support, this resource helps students build confidence and capability in solving rich, multi-solution problems.

Open-ended tasks are a powerful tool for differentiation, but students often need explicit instruction on how to begin. This PowerPoint walks students through four key steps—understand, plan, solve and check—providing a repeatable routine they can use for every open-ended problem they encounter.

Use this resource during whole-class instruction to model effective strategies before moving into independent problem-solving. It’s an ideal foundation for open-ended lessons and works perfectly with your existing problem-solving resources or our dedicated task cards and booklets.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Understand the purpose and structure of open-ended maths problems
• ✅ Follow a consistent four-step process: understand, plan, solve and check
• ✅ Apply reasoning and problem-solving skills in flexible, creative ways
• ✅ Reflect on mathematical thinking and improve accuracy and clarity
• ✅ Develop independence and confidence in tackling non-routine problems

What’s Included:

• Informative PowerPoint presentation with instructional slides
• Breakdown of each problem-solving step:
  • - Understand: what is the problem asking?
  • - Plan: what strategy will I use?
  • - Solve: how do I show my thinking?
  • - Check: does my answer make sense?
• Teacher prompts and guiding questions to model each step
• Slide examples for class modelling or discussion

Materials Needed:

• PowerPoint-compatible device for presentation
• Interactive whiteboard, screen or projector
• Student notebooks or task cards for follow-up activities

How to Use:

1. Introduce the four-step method and walk students through each stage using the slides.
2. Model how to approach an open-ended question, pausing for class discussion at each step.
3. Encourage students to use sentence starters or thinking prompts included on the slides.
4. Apply the method together on a new open-ended task as shared practise.
5. Set students up to complete independent or paired problem-solving using the same structure.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use at the beginning of a maths block before tackling open-ended tasks
• 💡 Pair with a student problem-solving planner or maths journal
• 💡 Display anchor slides in your classroom to remind students of each step
• 💡 Link with your weekly maths challenge or inquiry-based lesson
• 💡 Use the PowerPoint repeatedly to build student independence and routine

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Model multiple ways to interpret and solve the same question to celebrate creativity
• 💛 Encourage peer discussions around planning and checking strategies
• 💛 Provide sentence starters to help students explain their reasoning clearly
• 💛 Reinforce growth mindset—there is often more than one “right” approach!
• 💛 Use this framework across other learning areas to promote transferable thinking habits

Solving Open-Ended Maths Problems POWERPOINT provides a structured, supportive and flexible framework for tackling complex maths tasks. With easy-to-follow steps, it's a resource your students will return to again and again.

Pair it with our Open-Ended Maths Task Cards and Open-Ended Maths Problems Booklet for meaningful practise and extension opportunities.