Solve the Story — Add & Subtract Word Problems on a Ten Frame

About this activity

"3 birds sit on a branch, 2 more land — how many now?" A little story appears, the child models it with counters on a ten-frame to decide whether to join or take away, then types the answer on the keypad. This free, interactive Kindergarten math activity covers word problems within 10 and runs in the browser with no account.

Word problems are where numbers meet meaning. The child has to decide whether the story joins groups together or takes some away, which is harder than being handed a plus or minus sign. The ten-frame is a modeling aid the child can use to act the story out, but the keypad is where the answer goes — so the work is reading, deciding the operation, and then counting to be sure.

It is aligned to Common Core K.OA.A.2 — solving addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using objects or drawings to represent the problem. No timer, no score — just calm, playful practice.

What's inside this activity

• Designed for Grade K learners (ages about 5–6)
• Common Core strand: Operations & Algebraic Thinking
• Aligned to Common Core standard K.OA.A.2

How to play

Read the story problem, like 3 birds sit and 2 more land.

Use counters on the ten-frame to act it out, then type how many there are on the keypad and press Check.

Not quite? Reread the story and try again — there is no timer and no score.

What your child practices

• Reading a short story and deciding whether to add or subtract
• Modeling a word problem with counters on a ten-frame
• Solving addition and subtraction situations within 10
• Typing the answer to a real-world question about quantities

Learning goals

Solve add and subtract word problems within 10 — the focus of Common Core K.OA.A.2

Choose the right operation from the meaning of a story

Build the problem-solving habits that later math relies on