Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Operations & Algebraic Thinking · Grade 2

Two-Step Word Problems: Solve It in Two Steps

Second graders learn to tackle word problems that need two steps — like adding, then subtracting — reading carefully, solving one part at a time, and checking that the answer makes sense.

Grade 2Problem Solving50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Read a two-step problem.
  • ✓Solve one step at a time.
  • ✓Choose add or subtract.
  • ✓Check the answer.
Essential Question

“Sam had 8 apples, bought 5 more, then ate 3.” That’s more than one thing happening! How do we solve a problem with two steps?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

Solve in Two Steps

Project each problem and have students solve it step by step. The tool shows how to do one step, then the next.

🧩 Solve each two-step problemTry it
Solve each word problem in two steps.
The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — More Than One Step

5 min

“Bought 5 more, then ate 3” — that’s two things! How do we solve it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read a two-step story.
  • Ask what happens in it.
  • Set the goal: two-step problems.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read the story.
  • Find the two parts.
  • Predict the steps.
2

I Do — One Step at a Time

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Solve the first step.
  • Use that answer for the next step.
  • Check the answer.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Solve step 1.
  • Solve step 2.
  • Check it.
3

We Do — Solve Together

13 min

Class uses Solve in Two Steps.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do step 1, then step 2.
  • Say add or subtract.
  • Check it makes sense.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Do both steps.
  • Say the operation.
  • Check it.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students solve problems.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Solve two-step problems.
  • Show both steps.
  • Label the answer.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Solve them.
  • Show steps.
  • Label answers.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One problem.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a two-step problem.
  • Solve both steps.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Solve it.
  • Show steps.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
2.OA.1

Use addition and subtraction to solve one- and two-step word problems within 100.

CCSS
2.OA.2

Fluently add and subtract within 20.

CCSS
2.NBT.5

Add and subtract within 100.

SMP
MP.1

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Act out the problem.
  • Sentence frame: “First I ___, then I ___.”
  • Draw the story.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Break into two clear steps.
  • Underline the numbers.
  • Solve one step, then pause.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Write a two-step problem.
  • Solve a three-step problem.
  • Explain the steps aloud.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🔵Counters
  • 💻Solve in Two Steps
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 📄Problem cards
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

word problema math problem told in wordstwo-stepneeding two steps to solvestepone part of solvingaddto put togethersubtractto take awaysumthe answer to additiondifferencethe answer to subtractionsolveto find the answer
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Lily had 10 stickers, gave away 4, then got 5 more. How many now?
11 (10 − 4 = 6, then 6 + 5 = 11).
QUESTION 2
Why is it called a two-step problem?
Because you have to do two steps to find the answer.
QUESTION 3
In a two-step problem, what do you use the answer from step 1 for?
To help solve the second step.

Going deeper? Write your own.

Have students write their own two-step word problem for a partner to solve, then check the answer together. A printable problem-solving sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Two-Step Word ProblemsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Two-Step Word ProblemsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Two-Step Word ProblemsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: add, difference, solve, step, subtract, sum, two-step, word problem
  1. one part of solving
  2. to find the answer
  3. a math problem told in words
  4. the answer to addition
  5. to put together
  6. to take away
  7. needing two steps to solve
  8. the answer to subtraction

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Lily had 10 stickers, gave away 4, then got 5 more. How many now?
  2. Why is it called a two-step problem?
  3. In a two-step problem, what do you use the answer from step 1 for?
Answer key — Part A: 1) step · 2) solve · 3) word problem · 4) sum · 5) add · 6) subtract · 7) two-step · 8) difference
Part B: 1) 11 (10 − 4 = 6, then 6 + 5 = 11). 2) Because you have to do two steps to find the answer. 3) To help solve the second step.