Step-by-step Maths Level 1: One-step stories: add or take away
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 1 adding and taking away within 10 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
One-step stories: add or take away
Read the story slowly. Look for words like more, gets or came (add), and went, given away or eaten (take away).
Then write the sum that matches the story.
Key ideas
- More and gets mean add.
- Went and given away mean take away.
- Check that the answer makes sense.
Method. More means add.
- Start with 3 books. Zainab had three books.3
- Add the 4 more. Four more were borrowed.3 + 4 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Count on 4 from 3: 4, 5, 6, 7. It works.
Watch out. More means add.
Method. Lost means take away.
- Start with 9 marbles. Noah had nine marbles.9
- Take away the 4 lost. Four went, so take them away.9 - 4 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add back: 5 + 4 = 9. It works.
Watch out. Lost means take away, so the answer is smaller.
Method. Gives her more means add.
- Start with 5 stickers. Mei had five stickers.5
- Add the 2 more. Two more were given.5 + 2 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Count on 2 from 5: 6, 7. It works.
Watch out. Read the whole story before you choose add or take away.
Watch out
Watch out. Some stories say “more” but mean take away. Read the whole story to find out.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Act out the story with objects. Ask: “Did the number go up or down?” before you ask for the answer.
Exercise 8D One-step stories
Non-calculatorMethod. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Amira had 2 pencils.2
- Add the new ones. 8 more came, so we add them.2 + 8 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Count on 8 from 2: you reach 10. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Noah had 7 stickers.7
- Take away the ones that went. 2 went, so we take them away.7 - 2 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add back: 5 + 2 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Priya had 3 marbles.3
- Add the new ones. 2 more came, so we add them.3 + 2 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Count on 2 from 3: you reach 5. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Jack had 6 sweets.6
- Take away the ones that went. 5 went, so we take them away.6 - 5 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Add back: 1 + 5 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Zainab had 3 books.3
- Add the new ones. 4 more came, so we add them.3 + 4 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Count on 4 from 3: you reach 7. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Leo had 10 pencils.10
- Take away the ones that went. 8 went, so we take them away.10 - 8 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Add back: 2 + 8 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Mei had 4 stickers.4
- Add the new ones. 4 more came, so we add them.4 + 4 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count on 4 from 4: you reach 8. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Tom had 3 marbles.3
- Take away the ones that went. 2 went, so we take them away.3 - 2 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Add back: 1 + 2 = 3. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Aisha had 6 sweets.6
- Add the new ones. 2 more came, so we add them.6 + 2 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count on 2 from 6: you reach 8. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Ruby had 7 books.7
- Take away the ones that went. 5 went, so we take them away.7 - 5 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Add back: 2 + 5 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Amira had 3 pencils.3
- Add the new ones. 7 more came, so we add them.3 + 7 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Count on 7 from 3: you reach 10. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Noah had 3 stickers.3
- Take away the ones that went. 2 went, so we take them away.3 - 2 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Add back: 1 + 2 = 3. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Priya had 2 marbles.2
- Add the new ones. 8 more came, so we add them.2 + 8 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Count on 8 from 2: you reach 10. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Jack had 10 sweets.10
- Take away the ones that went. 2 went, so we take them away.10 - 2 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Add back: 8 + 2 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.
Method. Adding means we get more. Start with what there was and add the new ones.
- Start with the number at the start. Zainab had 6 books.6
- Add the new ones. 2 more came, so we add them.6 + 2 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count on 2 from 6: you reach 8. ✓
Watch out. More means add. Less means take away.
Method. Taking away means we get fewer. Start with the number at the start, then take away.
- Start with the number at the start. Leo had 7 pencils.7
- Take away the ones that went. 5 went, so we take them away.7 - 5 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Add back: 2 + 5 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Less means take away. Check your answer makes sense.