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🍎 Addition and Subtraction Word Problems

Solve story problems like 'six apples, two get eaten — how many are left?' using counters, drawings, and missing-number thinking, all the way up to 20.

4
lessons
~20 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 3–5
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Adding StoriesSolve 'add to' story problems within 10 using counters, fingers, or drawings.Story problems are little tales with math inside. In adding stories, more things join the group — like 2 bunnies and 3 more hopping over to make 5. Clue words like 'more' and 'another' tell you to add. Counters and fingers help you act the story out and count the total.
  2. Taking-Away StoriesSolve 'take from' story problems within 10, like 6 apples with 2 eaten, using counters.In take-away stories, things leave the group — eaten, lost, or flown away. We solved the apple story: 6 apples take away 2 eaten leaves 4. Clue words like 'eaten' and 'fly away' tell you to subtract. Act it out with counters and count what is left.
  3. Bigger Stories to 20Solve one-step addition and subtraction story problems with numbers up to 20.Bigger numbers work the same way. For 12 sweets with 4 eaten, lay out 12 counters, take 4 away, and count 8 left. Drawing circles and crossing them out works too. Whether the story adds or takes away, counters, drawings, and number hops will solve it.
  4. Missing Number MysteriesSolve missing-number problems like 3 + ▢ = 5 and 7 = ▢ − 9 by counting up and checking.Some number sentences hide a number in a box. For 3 + ▢ = 5, count up from 3 to 5 — it takes 2 hops, so the answer is 2. For 7 = ▢ − 9, put the 9 back: 7 + 9 = 16, and check that 16 − 9 = 7. Detectives always check their answer!

Questions this course answers

2 bunnies eat grass. 3 more hop over. How many bunnies now?

2 bunnies and 3 more make 5 bunnies in all.

Which words tell you a story is an ADDING story?

Words like 'more join' mean the group is growing, so you add.

There are 6 apples. 2 are eaten. How many are left?

6 take away 2 leaves 4 apples in the bowl.

5 ducks are on the pond. 3 swim away. How many are left?

5 take away 3 leaves 2 ducks on the pond.

3 + ▢ = 5. What is the mystery number?

3 and 2 more make 5, so the mystery number is 2.

7 = ▢ − 9. What is the mystery number?

16 take away 9 leaves 7, so the mystery number is 16.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • PBS Kids — early math
  • Khan Academy Kids
  • NAEYC — early math learning
  • Britannica Kids

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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