Kindergarten Kindergarten Word Problems (Add & Subtract to 10)
Read (or listen to) each short story and add or take away to find the answer. Numbers stay within 10.
- Homework
- Centers
- Review
- Morning Work
Download the Free Printable PDF
No sign-up required. Clean, low-ink US Letter format.
- Grade
- Kindergarten
- Subject
- Math
- Skill
- Word Problems
- Topic
- addition and subtraction story problems within 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 12 minutes
- Pages
- 2 (incl. answer key)
- Format
- Printable PDF (US Letter)
- Answer key
- Included
- Best for
- homework, centers, review, morning work
Worksheet details
What This Worksheet Practices
Students will solve simple add-to and take-from word problems within 10.
- Deciding to add or subtract
- Solving stories within 10
- Drawing or counting to find the answer
Inside This Printable
Student directions: Read each story. Draw a picture or use counters. Then write the number answer.
Worked example
3 ducks are in the pond. 2 more come. How many now? 3 + 2 = 5 ducks.
Sample questions
- There are 4 apples. Mom puts 3 more in the bowl. How many apples now?
- 5 birds sit on a fence. 2 fly away. How many birds are left?
- Sam has 2 red blocks and 4 blue blocks. How many blocks in all?
The PDF contains 6 practice questions plus 2 challenge questions.
Worksheet Preview
First story problems
Word problems turn math into a little story. The key skill is deciding whether to put together (add) or take away (subtract). Keeping the numbers within 10 lets kindergarteners focus on understanding the story, not on hard computation.
How to use it
Read each problem aloud and have your child act it out with counters (buttons, blocks, cereal). Ask “Are we putting together or taking away?” Leads into 1st grade word problems.
👩🏫 Teacher note
Read each problem aloud. Have students draw circles or use counters to act out the story. Ask 'Are we putting together or taking away?'
🏠 Parent note
Use small objects like buttons or cereal to act out each story, then count to find the answer.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Adding when the story says some go away
- Miscounting when using fingers or drawings
Answer Key
The number answer is given for each problem.
⬇ Download Answer Key (PDF)Learn this skill first
Take the free lesson on word problems — worked examples and practice exercises, then come back to this worksheet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is this worksheet free to download?
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Does it come with an answer key?
Yes — a complete answer key is included.
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