1st Grade Addition Word Problems
Eight short addition stories for first graders, all with sums within 20. Most ask for the total, and a few are the harder kinds that first graders also need to practice: problems where the starting number is missing, and "more than" comparisons. Each problem has space to draw a picture.
- Grade
- Grade 1
- Problems
- 8
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Standard
- 1.OA.A.1
Download
Download PDF (US Letter) Download PDF (A4)Two pages: the worksheet, then the answer key. No sign-up needed.
Word problems Solve. Draw a picture or write a number sentence.
Lily picks 6 flowers. Then she picks 6 more. How many flowers does she have now?
12Leo scores 10 points in the first game and 5 points in the second game. How many points does he score?
15Some birds sit on a fence. 2 birds fly away. Now 4 birds are left. How many birds were on the fence at first?
6There are 9 cars in the parking lot. 5 more cars park. How many cars are there now?
14A tree has 7 apples. Another tree has 4 apples. How many apples are on the two trees?
11Ava has 14 shells. Ben has 5 more shells than Ava. How many shells does Ben have?
19There are 6 ducks in the pond. 3 more ducks swim over. How many ducks are in the pond now?
9Jack has some stickers. He gives 3 stickers to his sister. He has 13 stickers left. How many stickers did he have at first?
16
Tips for teachers and parents
- Read each story aloud with your student before they solve it. At this age the reading is often harder than the math.
- Ask your student to draw the story with circles or tallies, then count. A picture shows whether they understood what is happening.
- After the picture, have them write the number sentence, such as 8 + 5 = 13. This links the story to the facts they already practice.
- Problems that start with "some" ask for the starting number. Act them out with small objects: put some in a cup, take some away, then work backwards.
Common mistakes
- Subtracting in a "how many were there at first" problem because the story says "fly away" or "gives". The question asks for the start, so the two parts are added back together.
- Reading "more than" as a signal to add without thinking. In these stories it does mean add, but ask your student to explain who has more before they solve.
What to practice next
When addition stories feel easy, move to the 1st grade subtraction word problems, then mix both.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of addition word problems are on this sheet?
Most are "put together" and "add to" problems where the total is unknown. A few ask for the starting number or compare two amounts, which matches the full range of the grade 1 standard.
How big are the numbers?
Every sum is 20 or less, so students can solve them with the addition facts they know or by counting on.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, page 2 has the answers to all 8 problems.