1st Grade Word Problems: 10 Printable + Answers (PDF)

Examples from this activity, with answers

These questions come from the activity above. You can read them and work on paper before playing. Read the instruction and choices first, then look at the answer.

Plouf has 3 seashells, he finds 2 more. How many does he have? 3 + 2 =
Choices : 4 / 5 / 6
Answer : 5
5 starfish and 5 more arrive. How many? 5 + 5 =
Choices : 9 / 10 / 11
Answer : 10
Plouf sees 2 bubbles then 3 more. How many in total? 2 + 3 =
Choices : 4 / 5 / 6
Answer : 5

Helping your child think it through

Ask your child to explain their choice. For a calculation, use objects, a drawing or a written operation; for a word, read the complete sentence again. If they are unsure, work through one question together before continuing. Stars show successful answers, not a school assessment.

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10 printable 1st grade word problems, with answers

Ten problems that get gradually harder, starring Plouf and friends. Your child reads the story, chooses the operation and writes the answer with its unit. The PDF has the problems with space to work, then a detailed answer key.

Plouf has 4 shells. He finds 3 more. How many shells does he have now?
There are 9 fish in the aquarium. 2 fish hide behind a rock. How many fish can we still see?
Plouf picks up 5 starfish in the morning and 5 in the afternoon. How many starfish did he pick up that day?
There are 12 bubbles. 4 bubbles pop. How many bubbles are left?
On the beach, Lina builds 8 sandcastles and Tom builds 6. How many sandcastles are there altogether?
Plouf has 15 pearls. He gives 5 to his friend the turtle. How many pearls does he have left?
A boat carries 20 passengers. 7 passengers get off at the harbor. How many passengers are still on the boat?
Plouf has 10 pieces of seaweed. He would like 16. How many more does he need?
Three small groups of fish swim by. There are 2 fish in each group. How many fish are there altogether?
Plouf has 30 marbles. He wins 20 at recess. How many marbles does he have now?

📥 Download the PDF: 10 problems + answers

Show the answers

4 + 3 = 7: Plouf has 7 shells.
9 − 2 = 7: We can still see 7 fish.
5 + 5 = 10: He picked up 10 starfish.
12 − 4 = 8: 8 bubbles are left.
8 + 6 = 14: There are 14 sandcastles.
15 − 5 = 10: He has 10 pearls left.
20 − 7 = 13: 13 passengers are still on the boat.
10 + 6 = 16, so 16 − 10 = 6: He needs 6 more.
2 + 2 + 2 = 6: There are 6 fish.
30 + 20 = 50: Plouf has 50 marbles.

The 4-step method

Read the problem twice: once to understand the story, once to spot the numbers (at this age, an adult reads it aloud).
Find the question: underline it: are we looking for how many altogether, how many are left, how many each?
Choose the operation: by drawing the situation: circles for objects, an arrow for what comes or goes.
Calculate and check: then answer with a full sentence and the unit, for example: “We can still see 7 fish.”

What children practise at ages 6–7

At ages 6–7, word problems use numbers up to 100. Children learn to solve situations where amounts are added, taken away, combined or compared. They start with objects and drawings, then write the calculation. The first equal-groups problems (3 groups of 2) are solved by repeated addition.

Filoumi tipAct the problem out with small objects (pasta, building bricks, counters): when your child sees the amounts move, they work out on their own whether to add or take away.

Parents' questions

How can I help my child (CP, ages 6–7) when they get stuck on a word problem?

Ask them to retell the story in their own words, then draw it (circles for objects, an arrow for what leaves). If they are still stuck, swap the numbers for smaller ones: the method becomes clear, and they just redo the calculation with the real numbers.

How many word problems should my child do each day?

One or two problems, about 10 minutes, are enough. Regular practice matters more than quantity: a few minutes every day beat an hour on Sunday.

My child can't read well yet: how can they do word problems?

Read the problem aloud (the interactive version does it too). At this age, what matters is understanding the situation, not decoding words. Your child can answer with objects or a drawing before writing the calculation.

Printable word problems for other ages

All CP exercises