First Grade · Math · week 21

Story problems: result unknown

Solve addition and subtraction word problems where the total or result is unknown.

A "result unknown" story tells you both starting amounts, and you find the total or what is left. "Maya has 5 apples and picks 3 more. How many now?" is a result-unknown story -- you just add.

Read the story carefully, decide whether things are joining together (add) or being taken away (subtract), then solve.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Read every story problem out loud together at least once before any math happens.
  • Ask "are things joining, or are things leaving?" as the very first question.
  • Act out the story with objects when the operation feels unclear.
  • Have your child answer in a full sentence, like "Sam has 10 crayons now," to prove they understood the question.
Talk about it:
  • How do you know whether a story problem needs addition or subtraction?
  • What is the result in a result-unknown story?
  • Can you make up your own result-unknown story?

Mastery looks like: They read a story problem, choose the correct operation, and solve for the unknown result.

Common stumbles: Grabbing numbers and guessing an operation without reading carefully; forgetting to answer in a full sentence.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

SubtractionTake away and count back, step by step.try →AdditionSee groups combine — with counters, blocks, and the number line.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
← Back to todayAll coursesYear planner