# Lesson 95: Addition and subtraction in real life

🧮 MATH (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. Addition and Subtraction

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## Objective

I can use addition and subtraction to solve real-life problems. I can decide when to add (put together) and when to take away and write a simple equation.

## Materials

- Small counters (toys, buttons, or snack pieces)
- Scrap paper or a small whiteboard
- Pencil or marker

## Mini-lesson — When do we add or take away?

In real life, we use addition and subtraction all the time. Stories about toys, snacks, and school can be turned into equations.

When to add

- We add when we put groups together.
- Look for words like in all, altogether, more, or joined.
- Example: "You have 4 toy cars and get 3 more."
- Equation: 4 + 3 = 7

When to subtract

- We subtract when we take away or when some are used or eaten.
- Look for words like left, take away, how many remain, or difference.
- Example: "You have 9 grapes and eat 2."
- Equation: 9 − 2 = 7

Reading the story carefully

- Who or what is the story about?
- What numbers are in the story?
- Are we putting together or taking away?
- What question are we trying to answer?

In this lesson, we will practise turning short stories into equations and deciding if we should add or subtract.

Picture strip: Snack stories — add or take away?

Snacks — Add more

Snacks — Eat some

## Guided Practice — Turn stories into equations

You will read short stories and decide if you should add or take away. Then you will write an equation and use the tracing pad to practise key words.

1. Use real objects: Pick a few toys or snack pieces to act out the story (for example, crayons or blocks).
2. Story 1 (add): "You have 4 crayons. Your friend gives you 3 more. How many crayons do you have in all?" Use counters to show it, then write 4 + 3 = 7.
3. Story 2 (take away): "There are 9 stickers on a page. You give 2 to your friend. How many stickers are left?" Use counters, then write 9 − 2 = 7.
4. Talk through the choice: For each story, say out loud: "I add because we put groups together" or "I subtract because some are taken away."
5. Make your own story: Make up a school story, like "There are 6 books on a desk. The teacher adds 4 more." Act it out and write the equation.
6. Use the tracing pad: Trace words like add, take away, left, altogether, or numbers from your equations (such as 7, 9, 10, or 12).
7. Explain your thinking: Under your equation, write one short sentence to explain, such as "I took away 2, so there are 7 left."

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice 1 — Real-life addition stories

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 1]

## Practice 2 — Real-life subtraction stories

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 2]

## Practice 3 — Choose add or subtract

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 3]

## Quick Check — Addition and subtraction in real life

Answer each question about real-life stories. Decide if you should add or subtract. You may use counters or draw a quick picture.

1) When do we usually add in a story?

When things are taken away When we put groups together When nothing changes
We add when we put groups together to find how many in all.

2) When do we usually subtract in a story?

When we draw a picture When we count by tens When some are taken away or used
Subtraction is used when something is taken away or used up.

3) "You have 5 marbles. You find 4 more." Which equation matches the story?

5 + 4 = 9 5 − 4 = 1 4 − 5 = 1
You are getting more, so you add: 5 + 4 = 9.

4) "There are 10 cookies on a plate. You eat 3." What should you do?

Add 10 and 3 Subtract 3 from 10 Do nothing
Some cookies are eaten, so you subtract: 10 − 3.

5) "There are 7 books in a basket. The teacher puts in 2 more." How many books are in the basket now?

5 7 9
7 + 2 = 9 books in all.

6) "You have 12 crayons. 4 crayons roll away." How many crayons are left?

8 16 4
12 − 4 = 8 crayons left.

7) Which words tell you to add?

take away, fewer, left in all, altogether, more none, zero, nothing
"In all", "altogether", and "more" usually mean add.

8) Which words tell you to subtract?

more, join, add groups, total, in all left, take away, how many remain
"Left", "take away", and "how many remain" usually mean subtract.

9) "There are 8 toy cars. 3 are red and the rest are blue." Which equation finds how many blue cars there are?

8 − 3 = ? 8 + 3 = ? 3 − 8 = ?
8 total minus 3 red tells how many are blue.

10) "You read 6 pages in the morning and 5 pages at night." How many pages did you read in all?

1 11 30
6 + 5 = 11 pages in all.

11) "There are 15 children on the playground. 7 children go inside." How many children are still on the playground?

22 7 8
15 − 7 = 8 children still outside.

12) Which equation shows a real-life addition problem?

9 + 4 = 13 13 − 4 = 9 9 − 13 = 4
9 + 4 = 13 is an addition equation.

13) "You had 10 balloons. 3 balloons popped." Which equation matches the story?

10 + 3 = 13 10 − 3 = 7 7 − 3 = 4
Some balloons are gone, so you subtract: 10 − 3 = 7.

14) What is the difference in 14 − 5?

14 5 9
14 − 5 = 9, so the difference is 9.

15) Why is it important to read the whole story before solving?

So you know if you should add or subtract So you can skip the numbers So you always choose addition
Reading carefully helps you decide if the story needs addition or subtraction.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can explain the difference between addition (put together) and subtraction (take away). Student can tell if a short story needs addition or subtraction. Student can act out a story with counters and write a matching equation within 20. Student uses words like in all, left, more, and less correctly. Student can explain how they solved one real-life problem in their own words.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can solve real-life stories with add and take away. 🙂 I can solve some stories but still need more practice. 😅 Real-life addition and subtraction still feel tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Turning stories into equations Choosing add or subtract Checking if my answer makes sense
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