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MathematicsAddition & SubtractionAges 8–10

Two-step addition and subtraction problems

Solve addition and subtraction two-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why

Lesson

Set out your lesson

Plan and solve a two-step addition or subtraction problem. Explain each operation and choose a suitable mental or written method.

Before teaching

Use this short check, then start teaching.

Activity

Ask what total and remaining mean. Ask for 900 − 400 (500) and ask the learner to set out 1,246 + 578. Expect 1,824. Use the earlier column lesson if written work is not secure. Read the story aloud if reading is the barrier and record that support.

Policy

Check readiness directly. Prerequisite availability is not attainment.

Printer, credit, and teaching notes

Check readiness directly. Prerequisite availability is not attainment.

Start with the readiness check. Use Show, then Guided, then a fresh Try. These linked lessons may need several short sessions; do not impose a speed target. Read the active sheet on screen and answer on plain paper or by typing. No printer, cutting, purchase or internet is needed. The adult may read the exact prompt. Record any hints, scribing or calculation help. Oral explanations are allowed but do not show independent reading or handwriting. Use as much space and time as needed; pause or split the lesson. Keep this adult guide and all keys private. Share only the active learner sheet. Before Try, put Show, Guided work and notes aside. Keep the fresh Try givens available. Give no answer or target method during the first attempt. If help is needed, give it and mark the attempt supported. Review the key after the attempt. Record the actual response and help; do not invent success or infer mastery from one attempt. These are fictional paper or oral mathematics tasks. No personal information, public sharing, purchase, physical experiment or real measurement is required.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view.

Next: Show

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Teaching approaches

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1 approach

Selected Default Gakuva

Plan and solve a two-step addition or subtraction problem. Explain each operation and choose a suitable mental or written method.

Plan and solve a two-step addition or subtraction problem. Explain each operation and choose a suitable mental or written method.

Family records and proof options

Keep a record of your learning

Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.

Learning resources

Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

Illustrative Mathematics · Practice link — not the full lesson

The Class Trip

Open practice (new tab)
Before you open · source notes

A class-trip story needs two steps of addition or subtraction. Use it for two-step problems, not every multiplication word problem.

Free, no sign-in. A teacher solution is on the same page, so use the student view with your child.

Before you open

Ask the learner to name both steps and the final answer for the trip story.

Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.

Source, access and review notes

Public Illustrative Mathematics task page. The .html address responds HTTP 308 to this URL. An anonymous GET of this URL on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt. Where a teacher solution is present, it is on the same page as the student task; this check did not find a separate locked student view. An adult can use the student view section and should not read a solution aloud. Advertising was not observed in the fetched HTML text; that is not a browser, device, or ad-free guarantee. This is a paper or discussion task, not an automatically marked interactive game. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. Diagrams on the page use missing or filename-only alt text, so they are not an accessible image equivalent. Accessibility still depends on an adult describing the picture.

Illustrative Mathematics. “The Class Trip.” Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. External task; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute it.

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — link only

Check understanding

  • Identify the two steps needed to solve a contextual problem
  • Choose between mental and written methods for each step based on the numbers
  • Explain why the chosen operations and methods are appropriate
“If your child reads a word problem with two steps — like working out change from a shopping trip with two items — can they plan which calculations to do and in what order?”

Curriculum record

Type
Procedural
Subject
Mathematics
Domain
Addition & Subtraction
Age range
Ages 8–10

Standards

acara-v9:AC9M4N06acara-v9:AC9M4N08uk-nc-2013:Ma/KS2/Y4/AS/3