Word Problem Game (2nd Grade)

Word Problem Quiz/Game (Grade 2)
Writing an equation or a number sentence from a word problem requires identifying the key quantities and recognizing the action keywords that signal addition or subtraction. Scroll down the page for a more detailed explanation.

This game is designed for second graders to practice reading and solving addition and subtraction word problems.It involves different types of addition and subtraction word problems.
Check out Word Problems Game for more basic word problems suitable for First Grade.

🧙‍♂️

Loading magic...

Types of Addition Word Problems for Second Grade
Type 1: Join - Result Unknown
This is the most straightforward and common type of addition problem. Two groups are physically or conceptually joined together, and the student needs to find the final total (the result).
Concept: The starting amount and the amount added (the change) are known. The goal is to find the final total.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Start} + \text{Change} = \mathbf{\square}\)
Key Words: In all, altogether, total, join, combine.
Example: Sara had 35 small stamps. Her grandmother gave her 12 more stamps. How many stamps does Sara have in all?

Type 2: Part-Part-Whole - Whole Unknown
This type is similar to “Join,” but the two groups are not necessarily physically combined or added sequentially. They are two distinct parts that exist at the same time, and the goal is to find the size of the whole group.
Concept: Two distinct, static groups (the parts) are identified, and the student must combine them to find the whole set.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Part}_1 + \text{Part}_2 = \mathbf{\square}\)
Key Words: Total, altogether, finding the number that belongs to both groups combined.
Example: There are 10 red marbles and 20 blue marbles in a bag. How many marbles are there in the bag?

Type 3: Join - Change Unknown
This type is essential for building a foundation for algebra. The student knows the starting amount and the final result, but needs to figure out how much was added (the change).
Concept: The starting amount and the final result are known. The goal is to find the unknown amount that was added.
Equation Structure: Start + Change = Result
Key Words: How many more were added? How many did [he/she] get?
Example: A baker had 20 croissants. After baking some more, she now has 45 croissants. How many croissants did the baker bake?
While many students will solve this using subtraction (e.g., 45 - 20), the underlying structure is still addition (Start + Change = Result).

Types of Subtraction Word Problems for Second Grade
Subtraction word problems fall into four main categories. While the calculation is always subtraction, the way the quantities relate to each other changes depending on the story structure.
Type 1: Separate - Result Unknown
This is the classic “take away” or “what is left” problem. It involves a starting quantity from which a known amount is physically removed or separated.
Concept: A starting amount is decreased by a known amount (the change). The student needs to find the amount that remains.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Start} - \text{Change} = \mathbf{\square}\)
Key Words: Left, remain, take away, how many are gone.
Example: There were 58 birds sitting on the telephone wire. 14 birds flew away. How many birds were left?

Type 2: Part-Part-Whole - Part Unknown
In this structure, the “whole” or total is known, and one of the “parts” that makes up that whole is also known. The student must find the missing part.
Concept: The total size of the group (the whole) is known, as well as the size of one of the sub-groups (a part). The goal is to find the size of the other part.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Whole} - \text{Known Part} = \mathbf{\square}\)
Key Words: The rest, some… some…, finding the missing part.
Example: A box holds 70 crayons in total. 40 of those crayons are red. The rest are blue. How many blue crayons are in the box?

Type 3: Compare - Difference Unknown
This type of problem does not involve taking anything away; it involves comparing two quantities to find the difference between them.
Concept: Two distinct quantities are compared. The student finds the difference in size, weight, length, or number between the two sets.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Larger Amount} - \text{Smaller Amount} = \mathbf{\square}\)
Key Words: How many more, how much less, difference.
Example: Marcus collected 62 seashells. His sister, Lily, collected 30 seashells. How many more seashells did Marcus collect than Lily?

Type 4: Separate - Change Unknown
The student knows the starting amount and the amount that remains (the result), but needs to figure out how much was removed (the change).
Concept: The starting amount and the final amount are known. The goal is to find the unknown amount that was separated or removed.
Equation Structure: \(\text{Start} - \mathbf{\square} = \text{Result}\)
Key Words: How many did [he/she] lose? How much did [he/she] use up?
Example: A baker had 95 bagels. After selling some during the morning rush, he had 45 bagels left. How many bagels did the baker sell?

This video gives a clear, step-by-step approach to explain how to solve addition and subtraction word problems for second grade.

Add and subtract fractions to make exciting fraction concoctions following a recipe. There are four levels of difficulty: Easy, medium, hard and insane. Practice the basics of fraction addition and subtraction or challenge yourself with the insane level.

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.

Word Problem Game (2nd Grade)

Ready to Solve?

Quest Complete!