# Lesson 92: Story problems with pictures

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

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## Objective

I can read a story problem with pictures, decide if I should add or subtract, and choose or write a number sentence to match the story.

## Materials

- Small counters (buttons, blocks, or toy animals)
- Paper with simple picture stories or ten-frames
- Number line from 0 to 20 (on paper or a card strip)
- Pencil and notebook or scrap paper

## Mini-lesson — How do we read story problems?

A story problem (word problem) tells a little story about numbers. Pictures and words work together to help us know what to do.

Look, think, then choose add or subtract

- Look at the picture: What do you see? Counters, objects, or people.
- Read the story: Are we putting together or taking away?
- Decide: If the groups join, you add. If some are taken away or used, you subtract.

Example 1 — Adding story

- Story: "Mia has 3 apples. She gets 2 more apples."
- Picture: 3 apples, then 2 more apples.
- We are putting apples together, so we add.
- Number sentence: 3 + 2 = 5.

Example 2 — Subtracting story

- Story: "There are 7 balloons. 2 balloons fly away."
- Picture: 7 balloons, with 2 crossed out.
- We are taking away, so we subtract.
- Number sentence: 7 − 2 = 5.

Helpful words in stories

- Add, in all, altogether, sum → usually add.
- Take away, left, how many are left → usually subtract.

In this lesson we stay mostly within 20. Use pictures, counters, and number lines to show how you solved each story problem.

Picture strip: Story problems with pictures

Adding story — apples

Subtracting story — balloons

## Guided Practice — Solve a story problem step by step

You will read a short story problem, look at a picture, and decide if you should add or subtract. Then you will use the tracing pad to write important story problem words.

1. Read the story: For example, "There are 4 birds on a branch. 3 more birds join them."
2. Look at the picture: Check that it shows 4 birds and then 3 more birds.
3. Decide what happens: The groups of birds are joining, so you will add.
4. Use counters: Put 4 counters down, then 3 more. Count how many in all.
5. Write the number sentence: In your notebook, write 4 + 3 = 7. Say it aloud: "Four plus three equals seven."
6. Try a subtracting story: "There are 9 cookies. 2 cookies are eaten." Now you are taking away, so you subtract. Use counters and write 9 − 2 = 7.
7. Use the tracing pad: Trace words like story, picture, add, or left. You can also trace one of your numbers, such as 7 or 9.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice 1 — Match pictures to stories

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 1]

## Practice 2 — Choose add or subtract

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 2]

## Practice 3 — Write number sentences for stories

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 3]

## Quick Check — Story problems with pictures

Answer each question about story problems. You may use pictures, counters, or a number line to help you.

1) What is a story problem?

A page of only numbers A list of shapes A little story that uses numbers
A story problem is a short story that includes numbers and a question.

2) The story says: "There are 4 cats. 3 more cats come." What should you do?

Subtract 3 from 4 Add 4 and 3 Do nothing
More cats are joining, so you add: 4 + 3.

3) The story says: "There are 9 pencils. 2 pencils roll away." Which number sentence matches?

9 − 2 = 7 9 + 2 = 11 2 + 7 = 10
Two pencils are taken away, so you subtract: 9 − 2 = 7.

4) Which word usually tells you to add?

Left Take away Altogether
"Altogether" means you are putting groups together, so you add.

5) Which word usually tells you to subtract?

In all Left Join
"Left" often means some were taken away and you want to know how many remain.

6) A picture shows 5 birds on a tree and 4 more birds flying to the tree. Which equation matches the picture?

5 + 4 = 9 9 − 4 = 5 5 − 4 = 1
The groups are joining, so 5 + 4 = 9 matches the picture.

7) A picture shows 10 stars. 3 stars are crossed out. Which equation matches?

3 + 7 = 10 7 + 3 = 10 10 − 3 = 7
Crossing out shows taking away, so 10 − 3 = 7 is best.

8) The story says: "Sam has 6 stickers. He gets 4 more stickers." What is the sum of his stickers?

6 10 4
6 + 4 = 10, so the sum of his stickers is 10.

9) The story says: "There are 8 fish in a tank. 5 fish swim away to another tank." How many fish are left?

3 5 13
You subtract: 8 − 5 = 3 fish left.

10) When you see a picture story, what should you do first?

Guess the answer Only look at the numbers Look carefully at the picture and read the story
Always look and read first so you understand what is happening.

11) Which story sounds like an adding story?

"Tom had 9 toy cars. He gave 3 away." "Lily has 2 dolls. She gets 5 new dolls." "Ben had 10 marbles. Some are lost."
"Gets 5 new dolls" means more are added, so it is an adding story.

12) Which story sounds like a subtracting story?

"There are 12 balloons. 4 balloons pop." "There are 5 flowers. 5 more flowers are planted." "There are 3 books and 2 games on a shelf."
Balloons popping means some go away, so you subtract.

13) The story says: "There are 10 children. Some are sitting and some are standing." Why do you need more information before you can write an equation?

Because 10 is too big Because you can only subtract with 10 Because you do not know how many are sitting or standing
You need the parts to know what numbers to add or subtract.

14) Why is drawing a quick picture helpful for a story problem?

It makes the story longer It helps you see the groups and what happens It changes the numbers
A picture helps you see if you should add or subtract and how many there are.

15) A student says: "I read the story, looked at the picture, and checked my answer with counters." What did they do well?

They only guessed They ignored the story They used more than one way to understand and check the problem
Using words, pictures, and counters together is a strong strategy.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can read and retell a simple story problem. Student can decide whether to add or subtract in a story problem. Student can match a story problem to a correct number sentence. Student can use pictures, counters, or a number line to show their thinking. Student can explain how they found an answer in their own words.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can solve story problems with pictures easily. 🙂 I can solve some story problems but still need more practice. 😅 Story problems with pictures still feel tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Reading story problems carefully Deciding when to add or subtract Matching stories to number sentences
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