CUBES Math Strategy

The CUBES math strategy is a step-by-step problem-solving routine that helps students understand and solve math word problems. Each letter reminds students what to do: circle the numbers, underline the question, box the key words, eliminate extra information, and solve/check the problem. This strategy is especially helpful for elementary students who need a consistent way to slow down, read carefully, and make sense of story problems.

Students seem to see a story problem and freeze.  Story problems prove to be a tough concept for students to grasp.  The CUBES math strategy is a great tool for students to have to help successfully solve story problems.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• What the CUBES math strategy means
• How each step helps students solve word problems
• When to use the CUBES or CUBS strategy
• How to introduce CUBES with an anchor chart
• Where to find a student template and math task cards for extra practice

What is the CUBES Math Strategy?

The CUBES math strategy is a simple routine teachers can use to help students break apart math word problems. Each letter gives students one action to complete before solving. Instead of rushing to choose an operation, students slow down, read the problem carefully, and identify what the question is really asking.

Teacher Note: CUBES should not be the only strategy students use to solve word problems. Before using CUBES independently, students should also learn strategies like drawing a picture, acting it out, using objects, making a table, writing a number sentence, and explaining their thinking. CUBES works best as a reading and comprehension support that helps students organize the information in a word problem.t a few that need to be taught first.

What Is the Difference Between CUBES and CUBS?

CUBES and CUBS are very similar math word problem strategies. CUBS usually includes circle the numbers, underline the question, box the key words, and solve. CUBES adds one extra step: eliminate extra information. Some K-2 teachers prefer CUBS because it is shorter, while others use CUBES when students are ready to identify details that are not needed to solve the problem.

What Does the C Stand For? Circle the Numbers

After students read through the word problem the first time, instruct them to go back through and circle all of the numbers or number words in the story.

Why it works: Circling the numbers helps students identify the quantities in the problem, but it also gives teachers a chance to remind students that not every number is always needed.

What Does the U Stand For? Underline the Question

The next step is for the students to underline the question that is found within the story problem.  Teach the students to think about the question and decide what exactly the question is asking them to do with the numbers.

Why it works: Underlining the question helps students focus on what they are actually being asked to find before choosing an operation.

What Does the B Stand For? Box the Key Words

When students draw a box around the key words, they are often found within the question that was just underlined.  This step can be a bit tricky in certain situations.  For example:  “John has 16 green apples.  He has 4 more green apples than red.  How many red apples does John have?”  In this instance, the students need to stop and think…”What is the question asking?” or “What does the question want to know?”

Why it works: Boxing key words can help students notice important language, but students should always use the full context of the problem instead of relying on key words alone.

What Does the E Stand For? Eliminate the Extra Information

Some K-2 teachers choose to skip the E step and some find it beneficial.  This step requires the students to go back into the story problem to decide if there is any information that can be skipped or ignored.

Why it works: Eliminating extra information helps students separate important details from distracting details, which supports stronger word problem comprehension.

What Does the S Stand For? Solve and Check the Problem

After the students have gone through the CUBES math strategy steps, they have worked with the story problem quite a bit.  They have gained a solid understanding of what the story problem is about and what is being asked.  The final step is to take the numbers, decide what to do with the numbers, solve, and then check.  Teach students to ask themselves, “Does the answer make sense?”

Why it works: Solving and checking encourages students to think about whether their answer makes sense instead of stopping as soon as they calculate.

Teacher Tip: Model the CUBES strategy several times before asking students to use it independently. Think aloud as you circle, underline, box, eliminate, and solve so students can hear the decision-making process. This is especially helpful for students who rush through word problems or choose an operation before understanding the question.

How Can Teachers Introduce the CUBES Math Strategy?

An anchor chart is one of the easiest ways to introduce the CUBES math strategy. Create a chart with students as you explain each letter, then have students complete their own CUBES or CUBS template. This gives students a visual reminder they can use during word problem practice.