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3rd grade · Math · Unit 13 of 16

Two-Step Stories

Solve problems in two steps

What your child practices

Word problems that take two steps with any of the four operations, choosing an equation with a letter for the unknown, and checking an answer by estimating.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: NY-3.OA.8 · solving two-step word problems with the four operations and checking answers by estimating

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Read the story and find the two steps.
  2. Do the first step, then use its answer in the second.
  3. Check: is the answer close to an estimate?

Example: Maya buys 4 packs of 6 stickers and gives away 5. How many are left? Step 1: 4 × 6 = 24. Step 2: 24 − 5 = 19. Answer: 19

Two-Step Stories in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 13 of 16 in 3rd grade Math, after Times Tens and before Halves & Fourths of an Inch.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Mia has 3 bags with 9 grapes in each and eats 5. Which equation finds the grapes left, g?

    • 3 × (9 + 5) = g
    • 3 × 9 − 5 = g
    • 3 × 9 + 5 = g
    • 3 + 9 − 5 = g

  2. Question 2

    Noah adds 847 + 116 and gets 1163. Round to the nearest hundred to check. Is that answer reasonable?

    • Yes, it is close to the estimate
    • No, it is far from the estimate

  3. Question 3

    A garden has 6 rows of 5 plants. 11 more plants are added. How many plants now?

    • 41
    • 31
    • 51
    • 40
    • 42

  4. Question 4

    Leo picks 18 apples in the morning and 14 in the afternoon. Leo puts them in bags of 8. How many bags are filled?

    • 4
    • 3
    • 32
    • 1
    • 5

  5. Question 5

    Lena picks 22 apples in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Lena puts them in bags of 8. How many bags are filled?

    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 24
    • 2

  6. Question 6

    Priya has 5 bags with 6 grapes in each and eats 3. Which equation finds the grapes left, g?

    • 5 + 6 − 3 = g
    • 5 × (6 + 3) = g
    • 5 × 6 − 3 = g
    • 5 × 6 + 3 = g

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