Kindergarten · Math · week 17

Mixed addition and subtraction stories

Listen to a short story problem, decide whether it means addition or subtraction, and solve it within 5.

Story problems hide a math question inside a little story. Listen carefully. Words like more or in all often mean addition. Words like left or gave away often mean subtraction.

First decide: are we putting together, or taking away? Then solve with objects or fingers.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Read each story slowly, twice if needed. Act it out with real objects.
  • Say the clue word out loud: more, in all, left, gave away.
  • Let your child decide the operation before solving. That decision is the real skill.
  • Make up your own silly stories together using their favorite toys or foods.
Talk about it:
  • What words tell you a story means addition?
  • What words tell you a story means subtraction?
  • Can you make up your own story problem for me to solve?

Mastery looks like: They correctly decide whether a story problem calls for addition or subtraction and solve it within 5.

Common stumbles: Guessing the operation without listening to the story; adding when the story asks how many are left.

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.
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