Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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.
  1. There are 18 cards in a box and 55 on the table. How many cards are there in all? → 73Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
  2. There are 50 shells in a box and 26 on the table. How many shells are there in all? → 76Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
  3. Lucia collected 23 crayons in the morning and 18 in the afternoon. How many is that altogether? → 41Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. A bus has 53 passengers. At the first stop 25 get off and 11 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 39Prompt: Do it one step at a time.
  2. Yuki read 37 pages. Ravi read 9 pages more than Yuki. How many pages did they read altogether? → 83Prompt: First find how many pages Ravi read.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Omar read 21 pages. Daniel read 11 pages more than Omar. How many pages did they read altogether? → 53Prompt: First find how many pages Daniel read.
  2. A bus has 58 passengers. At the first stop 11 get off and 15 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 62Prompt: Do it one step at a time.

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

eurekami

Two-step addition and subtraction problems

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Zoe read 25 pages. Luis read 20 pages more than Zoe. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    A bus has 67 passengers. At the first stop 13 get off and 19 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Luis read 32 pages. Ben read 16 pages more than Luis. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    A bus has 41 passengers. At the first stop 14 get off and 17 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Tariq read 45 pages. Kai read 5 pages more than Tariq. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    A bus has 40 passengers. At the first stop 22 get off and 8 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Jamal read 36 pages. Ines read 10 pages more than Jamal. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    A bus has 52 passengers. At the first stop 14 get off and 9 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Two-step addition and subtraction problems

  1. 1. 70

  2. 2. 73

  3. 3. 80

  4. 4. 44

  5. 5. 95

  6. 6. 26

  7. 7. 82

  8. 8. 47