Two-Step Word Problems

Grade level

Grades 2–3

Time

About 25 minutes

Topic

Math word problems

Answer key

Yes, page 2 of the PDF

Kids practice

Reading word problems, Choosing the operation, Showing work, Multi-step reasoning

What kids do

“Each problem has two steps. Write both number sentences, then the answer.”

Printed on the sheet:

1. 1 Ava had 24 crayons. She got 12 more, then gave 9 to her brother. How many crayons does Ava have now?
2. 2 A bus has 18 kids on it. At the first stop 7 kids get off and 4 get on. How many kids are on the bus now?
3. 3 Max read 15 pages on Monday and 22 pages on Tuesday. His book has 60 pages. How many pages are left?
4. 4 There are 3 boxes with 8 markers in each box. 5 markers are dried out. How many markers still work?
5. 5 Jo baked 36 muffins. She put 4 muffins in each bag and gave away 5 bags.
6. How many muffins are left?
7. 6 Tickets cost $6 each. The Lee family buys 4 tickets and pays with $30. How much change do they get?

Words on this sheet

crayonskidspagesmarkersmuffins

Teacher tip

Ask kids to underline the first thing that happens and circle the second, then write a sentence for each.

How to use it

• Read each problem out loud for kids who are still building reading skills.
• Teach a routine: read it, picture it, circle the question, solve, check.
• Do the first problem together under a document camera, then let kids finish on their own.

Watch for

Kids who grab the numbers and add without reading. Ask them to retell the story first.

Talk about it

• Does your answer make sense in the story?
• Which problem was the hardest? What made it hard?

Take it further

Pick one problem and change one number. How does the answer change?

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.