One-Step Word Problems Within 20

One-Step Word Problems Within 20

What students learn

Students learn to solve one-step addition and subtraction word problems within 20. Start with Word Problems: Hear the Story and Find the Change so the child listens for the story before choosing a number sentence.

Why it matters

Word problems show how math works in real life. Students need to hear the story, choose add or subtract, and explain why. Word Problems: Choose Add or Subtract gives practice with that decision.

Learn the idea

A one-step word problem has one change to think about and one answer to find. The student should ask, What happened? Did something join, or did something get taken away? Use Word Problems: Match the Story to an Equation to connect the story to the equation.

Try it

Read a simple story aloud, like 8 apples on the table and 3 more apples arrive. Ask the student to say whether the story is joining or taking away, then write the matching equation.

Parent guide

Keep the language slow and clear. If the child is unsure, underline the action words in the story and point to the numbers. Encourage a full answer: the operation, the equation, and the final answer.