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Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 58 beads in a box and 37 on the table. How many beads are there in all? → 95Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
  2. Kofi collected 20 apples in the morning and 55 in the afternoon. How many is that altogether? → 75Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.
  3. Lucia has 50 marbles. A friend gives Lucia 29 more. How many marbles does Lucia have now? → 79Prompt: Add the tens, then add the ones.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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. A bus has 61 passengers. At the first stop 20 get off and 11 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 52Prompt: Do it one step at a time.
  2. Liam read 25 pages. Ethan read 5 pages more than Liam. How many pages did they read altogether? → 55Prompt: First find how many pages Ethan read.

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. Jamal read 45 pages. Tariq read 5 pages more than Jamal. How many pages did they read altogether? → 95Prompt: First find how many pages Tariq read.
  2. A bus has 43 passengers. At the first stop 15 get off and 14 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now? → 42Prompt: 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

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Two-step addition and subtraction problems

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Mei read 37 pages. Aisha read 10 pages more than Mei. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    A bus has 49 passengers. At the first stop 15 get off and 9 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Tariq read 42 pages. Elena read 18 pages more than Tariq. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    A bus has 70 passengers. At the first stop 13 get off and 19 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Arjun read 30 pages. Aisha read 9 pages more than Arjun. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    A bus has 55 passengers. At the first stop 10 get off and 18 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Ravi read 34 pages. Mei read 6 pages more than Ravi. How many pages did they read altogether?

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    A bus has 31 passengers. At the first stop 14 get off and 11 get on. How many passengers are on the bus now?

    Answer

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Answer key: Two-step addition and subtraction problems

  1. 1. 84

  2. 2. 43

  3. 3. 102

  4. 4. 76

  5. 5. 69

  6. 6. 63

  7. 7. 74

  8. 8. 28