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Story problems to 20: 1st grade math

Word problems within 20, all problem types (join, separate, part-part-whole, compare; unknown in all positions). A free 1st grade lesson plan, a question set with answers and a printable sheet with its key. Copy it and make it yours.

Lesson plan

Goal

  • Students can do this: word problems within 20, all problem types (join, separate, part-part-whole, compare; unknown in all positions).

Teach (10 min)

  • Read the story, then write a number sentence.
  • Find what is missing: the total, a part, or the start.
  • Work one example on the board while students say each step aloud, then do one together.

Practise (15 min)

  • Students work the printable sheet in pairs, then alone.
  • Or practise it as a game with no sign-up: https://peabody.kids/math/numsense.g1_story1?lesson=1-numsense-story-1&at=1

Exit ticket (5 min)

  • Three questions on a slip:
  • 1. A jar has 5 marbles. Then 4 more marbles are dropped into the jar. How many marbles are there now?
  • 2. A parking lot has 8 cars. Then 2 cars drive away. How many cars are left?
  • 3. A jar has 9 marbles. Then 4 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?

Question set

10 questions that read in words, easiest first. Questions that need a picture are on the printable sheet below.

  1. A jar has 5 marbles. Then 4 more marbles are dropped into the jar. How many marbles are there now?
  2. A parking lot has 8 cars. Then 2 cars drive away. How many cars are left?
  3. A jar has 9 marbles. Then 4 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?
  4. A parking lot has 7 cars. Then 1 more cars drive in. How many cars are there now?
  5. A basket has 9 apples. Then 3 apples are taken out of the basket. How many apples are left?
  6. A box has 10 crayons. Then 7 crayons are taken out of the box. How many crayons are left?
  7. The first shelf has 5 books. The second shelf has 3 books. How many books are there in all?
  8. One basket has 2 apples. Another basket has 4 apples. How many apples are there in all?
  9. A box has 5 crayons. Then 2 crayons are taken out of the box. How many crayons are left?
  10. A jar has 10 marbles. Then 5 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?
Answers
  1. 9
  2. 6
  3. 5
  4. 8
  5. 6
  6. 3
  7. 8
  8. 6
  9. 3
  10. 5

Printable sheet

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

Story problems to 20 (1st grade)

  1. A pond has 5 ducks. Then 2 more ducks swim over to the pond. How many ducks are there now?
  2. A red box has 6 crayons. A blue box has 2 crayons. How many crayons are there in all?
  3. A pond has 8 ducks. Then 1 more ducks swim over to the pond. How many ducks are there now?
  4. A bus has 8 riders. Then 7 riders get off the bus. How many riders are left?
  5. A pond has 5 ducks. Then 3 more ducks swim over to the pond. How many ducks are there now?
  6. A jar has 6 marbles. Then 1 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?
  7. A jar has 8 marbles. Then 4 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?
  8. A bus has 10 riders. Then 2 more riders get on the bus. How many riders are there now?
  9. A jar has 5 marbles. Then 2 marbles are taken out of the jar. How many marbles are left?
  10. A garden has 7 flowers. Then 6 flowers are picked from the garden. How many flowers are left?
  11. One basket has 7 apples. Another basket has 1 apples. How many apples are there in all?
  12. A short stack has 10 cards. The tall stack has 8 more cards than the short stack. How many cards does the tall stack have?
Key
  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 1
  5. 8
  6. 5
  7. 4
  8. 12
  9. 3
  10. 1
  11. 8
  12. 18

Written by Peabody from its own skill pages. Free, no ads, no sign-in. Children can practise this on Peabody. More from teachers: teacher-shared resources.