This 4-page worksheet packet is aligned to Common Core 1.OA.1 and helps first graders make sense of addition and subtraction word problems by using strategies that build understanding step by step.
🛰 What’s Included in This Packet:
Page 1 – Use Key Words
Students analyze 6 multiple-choice word problems and use a key word graphic to decide whether to add or subtract.
Page 2 – Write Expressions
Students translate math stories into 7 addition or subtraction expressions, strengthening the connection between words and equations.
Page 3 – Word Problems in Two Parts
Students solve 4 word problems, each broken into two clear parts to support reasoning and organization.
Page 4 – Putting It All Together
Students tackle 6 full word problems that require choosing the correct operation and solving independently.
✔ Answer Key Included for quick checking and easy grading.
🚀 Skills Addressed:
- Representing and solving addition and subtraction word problems
- Writing expressions from real-world situations
- Solving problems with unknowns in all positions
- Building stamina and confidence with math stories
Perfect for classroom instruction, tutoring, homework, intervention, or review—because when it comes to word problems, failure is not an option.
This packet was originally created as a mission-critical support for a third grade special education student working to master this first grade standard, making it especially effective for intervention, remediation, and differentiated instruction.
1.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
Download this Word Problem Packet!
You can download this packet by clicking on the purchase button below. You can find other math for your students on our math page!
P.S. This resource is also available for purchase from in our TPT Store if you want to do that!