Beginning Addition: Word Problems

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

In the previous Related Lessons, found in the right-hand sidebar, you learned how to add using pictures, numbers, and signs.

• What were the two signs you used?

That's right! You used addition (plus) signs and equal signs:

+     =

Before you learn how to solve word problems, write the problem — and find the answer to — the picture below. Write your answer on a sticky note:

• Does your problem look like the one below?

3 + 3 = 6

If it does you are ready to learn how to solve word problems! If it does not, you may want to return to the previous Related Lesson on signs to get some extra practice.

There are lots of important things you will need to look for in word problems.

Take a look at this word problem.

• What is missing?

Lily put ____ cookies on the table. Then she put ____ more cookies on the table. How many cookies are there altogether?

• Did you notice there weren't any numbers in the problem?

You can't solve an addition problem without any numbers! The first thing you should always look for is the numbers. Now, take a look at the problem below.

• Can you find the two important numbers in this problem?

Lily put two cookies on the table. Then, she put three more cookies on the table. How many cookies are there altogether?

• Did you say 2 and 3 are the important numbers in this problem?

Fantastic! There is another part we need to look for. This is the part that tells you what to do.

Lily put two cookies on the table. Then she put three more cookies on the table. How many cookies are there altogether?

At the end of the problem, there is a question that asks how many cookies there are altogether. This question says you need to add all the cookies together.

Another clue in the word problem is the statement that says "three more cookies." This also tells you to add.

• Can you add 2 plus 3?

Use the picture below to help you:

• Did you say there were 5 cookies in all?

Fantastic! If you add 2 and 3 together, you will have 5 cookies.

Great work! You learned how to solve addition word problems.

Move on to the next section to get some practice.