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.
- Kofi had 5 apples. Kwame gave Kofi some more. Now Kofi has 8. How many apples did Kwame give? → 3Prompt: 5 + ? = 8
- Ben had 18 cookies. Ben gave some to Amara. Now Ben has 12 left. How many cookies did Ben give away? → 6Prompt: Ben started with 18 and ended with 12.
- Tariq had some strawberries. Then Tariq got 5 more. Now Tariq has 9. How many strawberries did Tariq have at the start? → 4Prompt: ? + 5 = 9
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.
- Isla had some seeds. Then Isla got 38 more. Now Isla has 85. How many seeds did Isla have at the start? → 47Prompt: ? + 38 = 85
- Fatima had some beads. Fatima gave 37 to Ethan and has 35 left. How many beads did Fatima have at the start? → 72Prompt: ? − 37 = 35
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.
- Zara had some buttons. Zara gave 16 to Sofia and has 38 left. How many buttons did Zara have at the start? → 54Prompt: ? − 16 = 38
- Kofi had some acorns. Then Kofi got 23 more. Now Kofi has 35. How many acorns did Kofi have at the start? → 12Prompt: ? + 23 = 35
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