Unknown Addends

In this worksheet, students solve addition word problems that involve unknown addends, requiring them to determine the missing part in an addition equation based on contextual clues. Each item presents a short, age-appropriate scenario set in a camping or nature environment, prompting students to analyze the situation and compute how many items were present at the start. Students practice reading carefully, identifying key numerical details, and determining which quantity is missing. This activity strengthens mathematical reasoning by encouraging students to reconstruct events logically. The problems also help students improve their number sense, build fluency with addition within 20, and interpret real-world problem structures. By integrating reading and math, this worksheet supports cross-disciplinary critical thinking.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Mathematics – Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Solving for Unknown Addends

Mathematics – Addition within 20 Using Strategies

Mathematics – Word Problem Interpretation and Reasoning

English Language Arts – Reading Comprehension of Short Informational Texts

Mathematics – Building Number Sense through Contextual Scenarios

This worksheet is part of our Addition Word Problems collection.