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Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 minutes

Story problems: work out the starting amount

Addition and subtraction

CCSS 2.OA.A.1England: Y2 Addition and subtractionEngland: Y3 Addition and subtraction

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Story problems: work out the starting amount.

  • 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: Story problems: find the missing change; Find the missing number in additions and subtractions to 100

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 · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Story problems: find the missing change; Find the missing number in additions and subtractions to 100). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Ravi had 11 apples. Zara gave Ravi some more. Now Ravi has 18. How many apples did Zara give? → 7Prompt: 11 + ? = 18
  2. Yuki had 18 apples. Yuki gave some to Fatima. Now Yuki has 16 left. How many apples did Yuki give away? → 2Prompt: Yuki started with 18 and ended with 16.
  3. Yuki had some crayons. Then Yuki got 7 more. Now Yuki has 13. How many crayons did Yuki have at the start? → 6Prompt: ? + 7 = 13

Hook · 6 min

  • Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
  • Share the objective: Story problems: work out the starting amount. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Noah had some photos. Then Noah got 12 more. Now Noah has 38. How many photos did Noah have at the start?
  • Step 1: 38 − 12 = 26
  • Step 2: 26
  • Answer: 26
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Zoe had some marbles. Then Zoe got 34 more. Now Zoe has 74. How many marbles did Zoe have at the start? → 40Prompt: ? + 34 = 74
  2. Priya had some crayons. Priya gave 36 to Ana and has 33 left. How many crayons did Priya have at the start? → 69Prompt: ? − 36 = 33

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Ines had 47 marbles. Ana gave Ines some more. Now Ines has 78. How many marbles did Ana give? → 31Prompt: 47 + ? = 78
  2. Ines had some seeds. Then Ines got 34 more. Now Ines has 60. How many seeds did Ines have at the start? → 26Prompt: ? + 34 = 60

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: Story problems: find the missing change.
  • 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-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Story problems: work out the starting amount

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Ben had some acorns. Ben gave 25 to Nia and has 20 left. How many acorns did Ben have at the start?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Ava had some postcards. Then Ava got 35 more. Now Ava has 74. How many postcards did Ava have at the start?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Felix had 55 stickers. Omar gave Felix some more. Now Felix has 83. How many stickers did Omar give?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Tariq had some pencils. Tariq gave 26 to Diego and has 45 left. How many pencils did Tariq have at the start?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Daniel had some pencils. Then Daniel got 21 more. Now Daniel has 43. How many pencils did Daniel have at the start?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Tariq had 16 acorns. Zoe gave Tariq some more. Now Tariq has 47. How many acorns did Zoe give?

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Zoe had some seeds. Zoe gave 29 to Ethan and has 40 left. How many seeds did Zoe have at the start?

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Lucia had some buttons. Then Lucia got 21 more. Now Lucia has 57. How many buttons did Lucia have at the start?

    Answer

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Answer key: Story problems: work out the starting amount

  1. 1. 45

  2. 2. 39

  3. 3. 28

  4. 4. 71

  5. 5. 22

  6. 6. 31

  7. 7. 69

  8. 8. 36