Adding and subtracting story problems with numbers up to 20. Your child works out what the story is asking, shows how they know with a drawing or a number sentence, and answers.
Picture the story. Are things being put together, taken away or compared? Draw it or write a number sentence, then solve and say the answer with its unit.
in allthe total when groups are put together
lefthow many are still there after some go
how many morethe difference between two amounts
number sentencenumbers and signs, like 8 + 9 = 17
Watch for: Adding every story, even when some are given away. Adding the two numbers in a “how many more” story. Leaving off the unit: the answer is 17 flies, not just 17.
At home: Tell quick stories with real things: 8 grapes on your plate and 5 on mine. How many in all? Let your child move them to check.
Sample sheet and answer key
Freddie's Frog Pond
Grade 1 · Story problems within 20 · 1.OA.A.1
NameDate
Freddie the frog lives in a busy pond full of bugs, lily pads and friends. Solve each problem to help Freddie out!
Warm-up
Quick facts before the stories.
3 + 1 =13 − 2 =1 + 6 =11 − 7 =
Story problems
Draw or write how you know, then answer.
1
Fern has 5 snails. Fern gives 2 to Moss. How many snails does Fern have left?
snails
2
Moss found 11 water bugs in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. How many water bugs did Moss find in all?
water bugs
3
Fern has 14 pebbles. Pip has 4. How many more pebbles does Fern have than Pip?
pebbles
4
Toby has 15 lily flowers. Freddie gives Toby 3 more. How many lily flowers does Toby have now?
lily flowers
5
Pip has 9 flies. Freddie gives Pip some more. Now Pip has 13. How many flies did Freddie give?
flies
Sheet
Freddie's Frog Pond
Grade 1 · Story problems within 20 · 1.OA.A.1
Answer key
Freddie the frog lives in a busy pond full of bugs, lily pads and friends. Solve each problem to help Freddie out!
Warm-up
Quick facts before the stories.
3 + 1 =413 − 2 =111 + 6 =711 − 7 =4
Story problems
Draw or write how you know, then answer.
1
Fern has 5 snails. Fern gives 2 to Moss. How many snails does Fern have left?
5 − 2 = 3
3snails
2
Moss found 11 water bugs in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. How many water bugs did Moss find in all?
11 + 2 = 13
13water bugs
3
Fern has 14 pebbles. Pip has 4. How many more pebbles does Fern have than Pip?
14 − 4 = 10
10pebbles
4
Toby has 15 lily flowers. Freddie gives Toby 3 more. How many lily flowers does Toby have now?
15 + 3 = 18
18lily flowers
5
Pip has 9 flies. Freddie gives Pip some more. Now Pip has 13. How many flies did Freddie give?
9 + 4 = 13
4flies
Answer key
New problems every time, three levels (gentle, core and stretch), themes to pick from, a second page if you want one. Each sheet comes with an answer key and a one-page guide for grown-ups.
