Math lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Story problems with three numbers
Addition and subtraction
CCSS 1.OA.A.2England: Y1 Addition and subtractionEngland: Y2 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Story problems with three numbers.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Add three small numbers
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Base-ten blocks, Number lines, Hundred square, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Add three small numbers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 5 + 6 + 2 = ? → 13Prompt: Add two of the numbers first.
- Look for two numbers that make 10, then add: 1 + 1 + 9 = ? → 11Prompt: Which two numbers make 10?
- Zara collected 7 birds on Monday, 6 on Tuesday and 2 on Wednesday. How many birds is that altogether? → 15Prompt: Add all three days.
Hook · 3 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Story problems with three numbers. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Aisha packs a picnic with 7 plums, 4 apples and 3 bananas. How many pieces of fruit is that?
- Step 1: 7 + 4 + 3 = 14
- Step 2: 14
- Answer: 14
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Leo packs a picnic with 4 apples, 5 bananas and 3 oranges. How many pieces of fruit is that? → 12Prompt: Add all three amounts.
- Chloe had 15 stickers. Chloe gave 2 to one friend and 3 to another friend. How many stickers are left? → 10Prompt: Both gifts are taken away.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Kai had 18 strawberries. Kai gave 4 to one friend and 3 to another friend. How many strawberries are left? → 11Prompt: Both gifts are taken away.
- Jamal packs a picnic with 4 oranges, 4 apples and 6 bananas. How many pieces of fruit is that? → 14Prompt: Add all three amounts.
Watch out for
- Subtracting the smaller digit from the bigger one in every column (52 − 17 = 45).
- Forgetting to add the regrouped (carried) ten.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Add three small numbers.
- Use concrete materials: base-ten blocks.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder