1st Grade Subtraction Word Problems Worksheet: Four Short Stories

Tell a six-year-old a story about six horses, two of which run off in the night, and they will often answer before you finish the sentence. Ask them to write it down, though, and the same child may freeze. This 1st grade subtraction word problems worksheet bridges that gap. It holds four short stories, each with a picture: bunches of flowers given to a neighbor, horses that leave a stable, a litter of puppies, and inflatable balloons. Each story ends with a question, and your child writes the answer on the lines below. All the numbers stay within 10. A second page gives the answer key, with pictures and sentences.

Why stories come before symbols

A word problem asks a child to turn a little story into math. That step is harder than the arithmetic. First the child must picture the situation, then find the starting amount and the part that goes away.

These four take-away stories keep that structure clear. Each one starts with a whole, 8 bunches, 6 horses, 10 puppies, 7 balloons, then removes a part. So the question is always about what remains.

Also, the answer key models a good habit. It draws each set, crosses out the part taken, writes a subtraction sentence such as 6 - 2 = 4, and then answers in words. Your child can copy that path. Drawing first is honest math.

At the table: the balloon story

Read the first story aloud and ask, "How many bunches did Khaleb's mum start with?" Then let your child find the number that goes away.

The balloon story at the bottom is where children trip. Mike blows up 3 of the 7 balloons, and the question asks about the ones still untouched. A child may answer 3, because those are the balloons in the story's action. Instead of correcting, ask your child to draw seven circles, color the three Mike blew up, and point to the rest.

The puppy story has a similar twist, since the puppies go to someone else. Ask, "Who still has puppies now?" A quick draw and cross out sketch usually settles it.

Story problems from your own day

The best word problems are the ones your child lives. At snack time, set out eight crackers, eat five, and ask your child to tell the story back as a subtraction. When friends visit, count the balloons or toys before and after someone takes one home.

Also, the song Five Little Speckled Frogs is a word problem set to music. One frog jumps into the pool each verse, so pause and ask, "How many are on the log now?"

Small stories like these keep subtraction within 10 meaningful. Finally, check the page with the answer key and praise the work: "You drew the story before you wrote the numbers."