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Add and subtract lengths: 2nd grade math

Length on the number line; add/subtract lengths. A free 2nd 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: length on the number line; add/subtract lengths.

Teach (10 min)

  • End to end means add. Cut off means take away. How much longer means take away.
  • Draw the bars if you get stuck.
  • 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/measure.compare2?lesson=2-measure-compare-1&at=2

Exit ticket (5 min)

  • Three questions on a slip:
  • 1. A rope is 12 inches long. Another rope is 5 inches long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  • 2. A stick is 9 feet long. A piece 6 feet long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  • 3. A board is 46 centimeters long. Another board is 3 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?

Question set

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

  1. A rope is 12 inches long. Another rope is 5 inches long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  2. A stick is 9 feet long. A piece 6 feet long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  3. A board is 46 centimeters long. Another board is 3 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  4. A stick is 9 meters long. A piece 4 meters long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  5. A stick is cut into two pieces. One piece is 12 inches long. The whole stick was 17 inches long. How long is the other piece?
  6. A stick is 45 centimeters long. Another stick is 4 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  7. A stick is 9 inches long. A piece 6 inches long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  8. A string is 71 feet long. First 20 feet is cut off. Then 10 feet more is cut off. How long is the string now?
  9. A board is 89 centimeters long. First 20 centimeters is cut off. Then 19 centimeters more is cut off. How long is the board now?
  10. Three strings are put end to end. They are 10 centimeters, 18 centimeters and 16 centimeters long. How long are they together?
Answers
  1. 17 inches
  2. 3 feet
  3. 49 centimeters
  4. 5 meters
  5. 5 inches
  6. 49 centimeters
  7. 3 inches
  8. 41 feet
  9. 50 centimeters
  10. 44 centimeters

Printable sheet

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

Add and subtract lengths (2nd grade)

  1. A pole is 15 centimeters long. Another pole is 4 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  2. A string is 18 meters long. A piece 8 meters long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  3. A board is 14 feet long. Another board is 3 feet long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  4. A string is 5 centimeters long. Another string is 3 centimeters long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  5. A board is cut into two pieces. One piece is 20 centimeters long. The whole board was 28 centimeters long. How long is the other piece?
  6. A board is 6 feet long. A piece 3 feet long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  7. A string is 17 meters long. A piece 7 meters long is cut off. How long is the rest?
  8. Three poles are put end to end. They are 24 inches, 17 inches and 28 inches long. How long are they together?
  9. A ribbon is 93 inches long. Another ribbon is 7 inches long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
  10. Three boards are put end to end. They are 8 meters, 29 meters and 14 meters long. How long are they together?
  11. A stick is 71 feet long. First 17 feet is cut off. Then 25 feet more is cut off. How long is the stick now?
  12. A pole is 34 feet long. Another pole is 56 feet long. They are put end to end. How long are they together?
Key
  1. 19 centimeters
  2. 10 meters
  3. 17 feet
  4. 8 centimeters
  5. 8 centimeters
  6. 3 feet
  7. 10 meters
  8. 69 inches
  9. 100 inches
  10. 51 meters
  11. 29 feet
  12. 90 feet

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