Addition and subtraction word problems
Solve addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using objects or drawings
What a learner can do afterwards
- Solve 'There are 6 apples, 2 are eaten, how many left?' using counters
- Solve 'add to' and 'take from' result-unknown problems
- Solve 'put together/take apart' problems with total unknown
1 · Read
You have used objects and drawings to show adding and taking away. A word problem tells what happens to a group. Find what the question asks. Use one counter or mark for each thing. When more things join, count the whole group. Count only the kind of thing asked about.
Mia has 2 blocks in one box and 4 in another. To find how many blocks she has in all, she counts both groups: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. There are 6 blocks. If no blocks join and none leave, the number stays the same.
To find what remains after things leave, show the starting group. Remove a counter or cross out a mark for each thing that leaves. Count what remains. If all 6 things leave, none remain. Write 0 for none. Read the whole story before choosing what to do.
All 6 counters are crossed out. None remain.
Follow changes in order. Start with 8 apples, take away 1, then take away 2. Five remain. Start with 4 blocks, take away 1, then add 2. Five remain. For three groups of 1, 2, and 1 blocks, count all three groups. There are 4.
The apple story takes away 1 and then 2. That makes 3 crosses.
A story can give the parts and ask for the starting group. If 2 birds left and 3 stayed, use counters for both parts. Put them together to find 5 birds at the start. The word 'left' does not tell you what to do without the rest of the story.
2 counters stand for birds that left. 3 stand for birds that stayed. Both parts make the starting group.
Read the story, then add or subtract to find the answer.
Lesson and practice text written for this dataset.
Readings and extra questions written for this dataset.
More to read
Keep the first group
One child sits at a table. Two children come to sit there too. How many children are at the table now?
Put out a counter for the first child. Add a counter for each child who comes. Count all the counters: 1, 2, 3. There are 3 children. The child who was there first still belongs in the count.
When the plate is empty
A plate holds 5 apples. Someone eats 4. Draw the starting 5 apples, then cross out the 4 eaten apples. One apple has no cross. That apple remains on the plate.
Now the last apple is eaten. Cross it out too. There are no apples without crosses. The plate has 0 apples left.
Which things belong in the count?
A shelf has 4 blocks and 2 cups. Someone puts another block on the shelf. How many blocks are there now?
Use 4 counters for the starting blocks and add 1 for the new block. Count 5 counters. The cups are still on the shelf, but the question asks about blocks. Do not include cups in the block count.
Change the model in order
There are 7 blocks. Put 2 away, then bring 1 back. How many blocks are there now?
Set out 7 counters. Move 2 aside and count the 5 that stay. Move 1 counter back into the group. Count again: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. There are 6 blocks now. The model follows each event in the story's order.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
17 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.