Bar Model Math Game
Bar Model Math is a free word problem game that teaches the bar model, the drawing method used in Singapore math. Children read a short story problem, build a bar model by dragging the bars to the right size, label it with the numbers from the story and a “?” for the number they need to find, then solve it. After every problem, the finished model and a step-by-step explanation show exactly how it works.
Bar Model Math
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- Ages
- 7–11
- School years
- 2nd Grade–6th Grade
- Skills
- Drawing bar models (tape diagrams) for word problems, Deciding whether to add, subtract, multiply or divide, Part-whole problems, including finding the starting number
- Time
- 10 minutes a game
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Bar Model Math
- Choose a level and press Play. Level 1 is part-whole problems, Level 2 is comparison, Level 3 is equal parts, Level 4 is fractions of amounts and Level 5 is two-step problems.
- Read the story (or press the speaker button to hear it). Build the model: drag the divider or the end of each bar so the bars show the story roughly to size. For equal parts and fractions, use + and − to choose the number of parts and how many are shaded. Arrow keys move a selected divider or bar end.
- Label the model: drag each number onto the right box, or tap a number and then tap a box. Put the ? on the number the question asks for. Numbers that are already shown by the parts of the bar can stay unused.
- Solve it on the number pad. Two-step problems go one step at a time. If an answer is wrong, the hint explains the mistake, and after the problem the finished model and a worked explanation are shown.
What your child learns
- Drawing bar models (tape diagrams) for word problems
- Deciding whether to add, subtract, multiply or divide
- Part-whole problems, including finding the starting number
- Comparison problems: more than, fewer than and how many more
- Equal groups, sharing and “times as many”
- Fractions of amounts, such as 3/4 of 24
- Two-step problems with a total and a difference, or a total and a multiple
About Bar Model Math
The bar model is a simple drawing that turns a word problem into a picture. A whole bar split into parts shows adding and taking away, two bars side by side show a comparison, and a bar cut into equal units shows multiplication, division and fractions. Once a child has drawn the model and put a “?” on the part they need to find, the question “do I add or take away?” usually answers itself. Bar models are at the heart of Singapore math and are now used in classrooms around the world, from 2nd Grade part-whole stories to the two-step problems in 6th Grade.
In Bar Model Math, children do every step themselves. They size the bars from the story (a bigger number needs a longer bar), label the model, and only then calculate. Each level targets a type of problem that children often find tricky, including stories where the start is unknown, the confusing “Ali has 5 more than Sam” wording, and classic total-and-difference puzzles that are solved by making the bars equal first. Every problem is made fresh with different names and contexts, every answer is a whole number, there is no timer, and every mistake gets a hint that explains why.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| 2nd Grade | Level 1: part-whole problems (adding and taking away) |
| 3rd Grade | Level 1, then Level 2: comparison problems, such as “Sam has 5 more than Ali” |
| 4th Grade | Level 3: equal parts (multiplication, division and “times as many”), then Level 4 |
| 5th Grade | Level 4: fractions of amounts, such as 3/4 of 24, then Level 5 |
| 6th Grade | Level 5: two-step problems, such as a total and a difference |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a bar model in math?
A bar model is a diagram that uses rectangles (bars) to show the numbers in a word problem. The length of each bar shows its size. Parts and wholes, differences and equal groups all become easy to see, so children can decide which calculation to do. In the US it is often called a tape diagram.
How do you draw a bar model for a word problem?
Read the problem and decide what the whole is and what the parts are. Draw a bar for each person or amount, making bigger numbers longer. Label the known numbers, put a ? on the unknown, then use the picture to choose the calculation.
What is the difference between a part-whole and a comparison bar model?
A part-whole model is one bar split into parts, used when amounts are put together or taken away. A comparison model has two bars, one under the other, used when the problem says “more than”, “fewer than” or “how many more”. The extra bit at the end of the longer bar is the difference.
How do bar models help with fractions?
To find 3/4 of 24, draw a bar for 24 and split it into 4 equal parts. Each part is 24 ÷ 4 = 6, so 3 parts are 3 × 6 = 18. Level 4 practices exactly this, including questions about the part that is left.
Which level should my child start on?
Most children in 2nd Grade and 3rd Grade should start on Level 1 or 2. Level 3 suits children who know some times tables, Level 4 suits 4th Grade and 5th Grade, and Level 5 is a good challenge for 5th Grade and 6th Grade.
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