Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes
Two-step addition and subtraction problems
Addition and subtraction
CCSS 2.OA.A.1England: Y2 Addition and subtractionEngland: Y3 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Two-step addition and subtraction problems.
- 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 two-digit numbers with regrouping; Subtract two-digit numbers with regrouping
Leads to: Two-step word problems using all four operations
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 two-digit numbers with regrouping; Subtract two-digit numbers with regrouping). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- There are 33 apples in a box and 38 on the table. How many apples are there in all? → 71Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
- Zara collected 16 stickers in the morning and 45 in the afternoon. How many is that altogether? → 61Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
- Kwame has 29 balls. A friend gives Kwame 27 more. How many balls does Kwame have now? → 56Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
Hook · 3 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Two-step addition and subtraction problems. 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: A bus has 34 passengers. At the first stop 13 get off and 20 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?
- Step 1: 34 − 13 = 21
- Step 2: 21 + 20 = 41
- Answer: 41
- 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.
- A bus has 64 passengers. At the first stop 12 get off and 19 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 71Prompt: Do it one step at a time.
- Ravi read 30 pages. Liam read 18 pages more than Ravi. How many pages did they read altogether? → 78Prompt: First find how many pages Liam read.
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.
- A bus has 43 passengers. At the first stop 14 get off and 10 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 39Prompt: Do it one step at a time.
- Aisha read 29 pages. Kwame read 19 pages more than Aisha. How many pages did they read altogether? → 77Prompt: First find how many pages Kwame read.
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 two-digit numbers with regrouping.
- 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
- Move on to: Two-step word problems using all four operations.
- 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-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder