math problem solving in kindergarten

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Check Out These 50 Kindergarten Math Word Problems of the Day

Sue has 5 markers. Tom has 3 markers.

Opening your daily math lesson with a word problem of the day is an excellent way to set the stage for learning! Incorporate them at the start of your math block to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and a learning community. Students will get used to reading for meaning, while also identifying key information. Encourage students to write out equations and draw pictures to explain their thinking, since this helps them see the light when they are stuck!

Topics in these kindergarten math word problems cover addition, subtraction, comparison, number sense, comparing numbers, and measurement. Want this entire set of kindergarten math word problems in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here . All you need to do is post one of the problems on your whiteboard or projector screen. Then let kids take it from there.

50 Kindergarten Math Word Problems

1. sue has 2 markers. tom has 3 markers. how many markers do they have all together.

2. There are 4 red blocks on the rug. There are 4 yellow blocks on the rug. How many blocks are on the rug in all?

3. Sam has 3 marbles. Tim gave Sam 1 marble. How many marbles does Sam have now?

4. One cat is in the yard. 4 more cats come into the yard. How many cats are in the yard now?

5. Jill had 7 toy cars. She got 3 more for her birthday. How many toy cars does Jill have now?

6. Ava has 2 more books than Lucy. Lucy has 6 books. How many books does Ava have?

7. There are 7 red chairs and 2 green chairs at the table. How many chairs are at the table all together?

8. Pete put 2 pencils in his desk. There were 3 pencils in there already. How many pencils are in Pete’s desk now?

9. Tina has 4 jackets at home and 2 jackets at school. How many jackets does Tina have in all?

10. Bob has 5 more stamps than Bill. Bill has 2 stamps. How many stamps does Bob have?

11. James has 5 flowers. He gives Lisa 3 flowers. How many flowers does James have left?

12. 8 birds were on the playground. 5 birds flew away. How many birds are still on the playground?

13. Karen had 4 peanuts. She ate 3 of them. How many peanuts does Karen have left?

14. There are 6 boxes on the truck. 4 boxes are blue. The rest are green. How many boxes are green?

15. Frank has 7 donuts. If he gives 3 away, how many donuts will he have left?

16. Tim had 5 balls at home. He took 1 ball to school. How many balls did he leave at home?

17. There are 10 pieces of fruit in the bowl. 2 are apples. The rest of the fruit are oranges. How many oranges are in the bowl?

18. Kris has 5 stickers. She gives Dave 4 of her stickers. How many stickers does Kris have left?

19. Lisa drew 4 pictures. Kelly drew 6 pictures. Who drew more pictures? How many more?

20. Malik has 10 balls of clay. He gives 10 of the clay balls to Rob. How many clay balls does Malik have now?

21. Sara wants to make 8 cards. She already made 4 of them. How many more cards does Sara need to make?

22. The class sang 5 songs. They want to sing 10 songs. How many more songs does the class want to sing?

23. Rose had some beads on her bracelet. She got 3 more beads and put them on. Now she has 6 beads all together. How many beads did Rose have at the start?

24. Mr. Jones had 4 pens. He bought some more pens. Now he has 6 pens. How many pens did he buy?

25. Lilly has 3 pink hats, 2 white hats, and 1 purple hat. How many hats does Lilly have in all?

26. Pat has 4 erasers. Ken has 2 erasers. Jason has 2 erasers. How many erasers do they have all together?

27. There were some animals in the barnyard. There were 5 goats, 4 cows, and 1 sheep. How many animals were in the barnyard all together?

28. South Street has some houses on it. 3 houses are blue, 1 house is gray, and 4 houses are white. How many houses are on South Street?

29. Meg has a cat, 2 dogs, and a parrot. How many pets does Meg have?

30. Ken likes to plant trees. He planted 7 pine trees, 2 oak trees, and 0 spruce trees. How many trees did Ken plant all together?

31. Ms. Matho gave her class this pattern and asked them to finish it: 3, 4, 5, 6, __, __. What should the last two numbers be?

32. Ian has a pattern on his shirt. It was blue stripe, red stripe, blue stripe, red stripe. What color is the next stripe?

33. The countdown started. The class called out, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6…” What were the next two numbers they called out?

34. Joan was counting her socks by two’s. She had 4 pair of socks. How many socks is that all together?

35. Faith’s hat has a letter pattern on it. It goes A,B,C, A,B,C. What letter comes after B in the pattern?

36. Larry has 12 stamps. Barry has 11 stamps. Who has more stamps?

37. There were 20 yellow backpacks. There were 19 blue backpacks. Which color were most of the backpacks?

38. Jessica had some crayons. Pam had 15 crayons. Jessica had 2 more crayons than Pam. How many crayons did Jessica have?

39. Stan had 14 pennies. Dave had 9 pennies. Who had less pennies?

40. Beth was 8 years old. Her sister, Lori was 10 years old. Who is older? How much older?

41. The stick was 10 inches long. It was painted red and white. 5 inches of the stick were red. How much of the stick was white?

42. Frisky the cat weighs 6 pounds. Mittens the cat weighs 9 pounds. Which cat weighs more? How much more?

43. 17 is Chan’s lucky number. The number that comes before Chan’s is Ming’s lucky number. What is Ming’s lucky number?

44. The buses are all lined up in number order. The #12 bus is Juan’s bus. What number bus comes right after Juan’s bus?

45. Stacey practiced soccer for 6 hours last week. Emily practiced soccer for 4 hours last week. Who practiced soccer longer? How much longer?

46. Mrs. Tang’s class got 18 new books from the book fair. Mr. Smith’s class got 15 new books from the book fair. Which class got more new books from the book fair?

47. There are 10 children at the lunch table. 4 are boys. The rest are girls. How many children at the lunch table are girls?

48. The doors in the school are in number order. Carol is in Room #11. Delia is in the room right before Carol’s. What room is Delia in?

49. There are 3 boxes. The pink box has 4 balls in it. The orange box has 2 balls in it. The black box has 2 more balls than the pink box. Which box has the most balls? How many are in that box?

50. Jon likes to draw. He does 1 drawing every day after school. How many drawings does he do every week?

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Kindergarten Lessons

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KINDERGARTEN MATH PROBLEM SOLVING

Organize your routines to promote plenty of kindergarten math problem solving.

It’ll help children make sense of math concepts as they solve problems using real life objects and everyday situations that they can relate to.

When children learn to recognize a problem, try a few problem solving strategies, suggest a variety of solutions to solve the problem, and finally, test their ideas. They will gain confidence and have a chance to use skills that they have learned previously.

Keep Math Problem Solving Activities Simple

• Jars from pasta sauce and other products work well also.
• Ask parents to save clean jar lids that are large enough to hold 3 one-inch blocks. Check there are no sharp edges.
• Cups are too deep for the following activities as the children cannot easily see how many counters they have put into each cup.

Literature based problem solving games…

Game – Birthday party across the river

Set up the problem by reading a book such as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present.

After reading it, talk about:

• What was the little girl’s problem?
• What did she do to solve it?
• How did Mr. Rabbit help?
• How did they solve the problem?

Boats and River Game

• Boats – One jar lid per child (such as the ones that pasta sauce comes in) that hold 3 one-inch Unifix™ cubes. The lids represent the boats.
• Presents – Ten one-inch Unifix™ cubes for each student. These represent the presents. Vary the number of blocks, depending on the children’s abilities.
• 1/2 sheet of blue construction paper cut lengthwise – this is the river
• Recording sheet and pencils
• Introduce the problem – Tell your students that you are pretending that all ten of Mr. Rabbit’s  presents (cubes) have to get across the river for a birthday party. The presents will have to go in the boats (jar lids) but can not be stacked on top of each other or they will fall in the water. Only 3 presents can fit into a boat but all the presents have to get to the party.
• How many trips across the river does your boat need to take?
• Each child loads their boat with 3 cubes and take them across the river then unloads their boat
• Children record each trip with a tally line.
• Vary the number of blocks with each game

Sharing type problem solving …

• Counters, blocks or crackers
• Small paper plates – 4 per child
• Lids and blocks as above

Focus on different ways of solving the problems. Vary the games and materials each time:

• Game #1 – Say to the children – “You have 4 plates, one for each friend, and 12 crackers. How can you make sure that all your friends get the same number of crackers?”
• Game #2 – Each child gets 4 lids and 12 blocks. “How you can put the blocks into the lids so all the lids have the same number of blocks?”
• Game #3 – Each child gets 2 plates. Goldfish type crackers are in bowls near the children. “How can we figure out how many crackers we will need if each plate has 10 crackers?”

Seating & PE equipment type kindergarten problem solving …

One group of children watches while the other group acts out the problem.

Prompt with suggestions as necessary. E.G. How could we figure that out? All the children can contribute ideas to solve these types of problems.

#1 – Four children can sit around each table. We have 12 children. How can we figure out how many tables we need so everybody can sit down?

#2 – We have 6 balls and 12 children. How can we share the balls so all the children get to play with the same number of balls?

#3 – This group has 4 children. If each child jumps 3 times, how can we keep track of how many jumps will they jump all together?

Tip – Save these types of problems for after the children have had plenty of activity and are ready to sit and rest for a while.

Spatial type problem solving

• Pattern blocks

Ask questions such as the ones below.

1. How many ways can you make a bird (or flower or star…) using only 5 pattern blocks? Children spend 5 minutes making birds. Have them count the number of pattern blocks in each bird as they sometimes get carried away and end up making a bird with many more blocks!

2. Show me how you can make 3 different stars can with your pattern blocks?

Recording problem solving activities

Prompt students to record the results of most activities, even if they are only able to make a simple picture.

Many opportunities for math problem solving will arise in a regular preschool or kindergarten day.

• Keep problem solving simple and age appropriate
• Focus on problems that have open-ended results
• If children get frustrated, give them the option of leaving the problem and coming back to it later

• Kindergarten Math Worksheets

Building a Strong Mathematical Foundation: Empowering Children from the Start

Learning fundamental math in kindergarten is crucial. It builds confidence and prepares children for more advanced concepts. Our kindergarten math category includes worksheets for early stages and slightly more advanced levels. They cover numbers, counting, measurement, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, we offer free worksheets on addition, subtraction, fractions, place value, graphs, and patterns. These materials are designed to be both fun and educational. You can use all our free math worksheets online, except for the premium collection. They serve as valuable tools for parents and teachers.

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Free Math Worksheets

Flexible Options: Download, Print, or Use Our Free Math Worksheets Online

• Printable Worksheets - Effortlessly Print from Your Web Browser
• PDF Worksheets - Easily Download and Access Files Anytime
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Our math worksheets are designed to be convenient for educators and families. We offer three options to access our free worksheets. You can download the PDF file, print it from your browser, or use the online version of our kindergarten worksheets. These options allow you to save, print, or complete our worksheets directly on our website. By providing these flexible options, we aim to make learning math accessible, convenient, and engaging for teachers, parents, and kids.

Kindergarten Numbers Worksheets

• Color By Number Worksheet
• Numbers 1 to 5 Worksheet
• Numbers 6 to 10 Worksheet
• Coloring Numbers Worksheet
• Color by Code Worksheet
• Identifying Numbers Worksheet
• Number Match Worksheet
• Practice Writing Numbers Worksheet
• Preschool Numbers Worksheet
• Prime Numbers Worksheet
• Snail Number Match Worksheet
• Traceable Numbers Worksheet
• Count and Match Numbers Worksheet
• Number One Worksheet
• Number Two Worksheet
• Number Three Worksheet
• Number Four Worksheet
• Number Five Worksheet
• Number Six Worksheet
• Number Seven Worksheet
• Number Eight Worksheet
• Number Nine Worksheet
• Number Ten Worksheet
• Get More Worksheets

Kindergarten Addition Worksheets

• Animal Picture Addition Worksheet
• Color by Addition Worksheet
• Column Addition with Pictures Worksheet
• Spin the Wheel Addition Worksheet
• Flower Picture Addition Worksheet
• Easy Column Addition Worksheet
• Simple Word Problem Addition Worksheet
• Fruit Picture Addition Worksheet
• Column Addition Worksheet
• Sports Day Math Worksheet
• Cats Picture Addition Worksheet
• Bug Picture Addition Worksheet
• Fact Family Worksheet
• Adding Pictures Worksheet
• Add and Match Picture Addition Worksheet

Kindergarten Subtraction Worksheets

• Basic Subtraction with Pictures Worksheet
• Column Subtraction with Birds Worksheet
• Subtraction Worksheet with Pictures
• Starfish Subtraction Worksheet
• Fruit Picture Subtraction Worksheet
• Animal Picture Subtraction Worksheet
• Subtract and Match Worksheet
• Dinosaur Column Subtraction Worksheet
• Simple Subtraction Word Problem Worksheet
• Dinosaur Subtract and Match Worksheet
• Ladybug Subtract and Match Worksheet
• Ice Cream Subtraction Worksheet

Kindergarten Shapes Worksheets

• Circle Worksheet
• Square Worksheet
• Rectangle Worksheet
• Triangle Worksheet
• Shapes Recognition Worksheet

Kindergarten Counting Worksheets

• Counting Baby Chicks Worksheet
• Counting Lesson Worksheet
• Counting Cats Worksheet
• Counting Dogs Worksheet
• Count and Color Worksheet
• Caterpillar Missing Number Worksheet
• Chicken Missing Numbers Worksheet
• Animal Counting Worksheet
• Space Counting Worksheet
• Spaceship Missing Numbers Worksheet
• Ten-Tastic Counting Worksheet
• Before and After Numbers Worksheet

Kindergarten More or Less Worksheets

• Picture Comparison Worksheet
• Comparing Numbers from 1 to 10 Worksheet
• More or Less Activity Worksheet
• Comparison Worksheet
• More or Less Number Worksheet
• Comparing Numbers Worksheet
• Butterflies More or Less Worksheet

Kindergarten Measurement Worksheets

• Measuring Height Worksheet
• Measuring Length with a Ruler Worksheet
• Weight Measurement Worksheet
• Weight Comparison Worksheet
• Animal Measurement Worksheet
• Inches Worksheet
• Heavier or Lighter Worksheet
• Capacity Worksheet
• Metric Measurement Worksheet
• Pound Measurement Worksheet

Kindergarten Patterns Worksheets

• Geometry Patterns Worksheet
• Animal Patterns Worksheet
• Number Patterns Worksheet

Kindergarten Making 10 Worksheets

• Adding to 10 Worksheet
• Color by Making 10 Worksheet
• Caterpillar Making 10 Game Worksheet
• Spin the Wheel Making 10 Worksheet
• Let's Make 10 Worksheet

Kindergarten Place Value Worksheets

• Apple Place Value Worksheet
• Tens and Ones Worksheet
• Egg Place Value Worksheet

Kindergarten Graphs Worksheets

• Farm Animals Bar Graph Worksheet
• Dinosaur Bar Graph Worksheet
• Flower Bar Graph Worksheet
• Fish Bar Graph Worksheet
• Seashell Bar Graph Worksheet
• Animal Coordinates Worksheet
• Insect Coordinates Worksheet
• Line Graph Worksheet

Kindergarten Fractions Worksheets

• Equal Parts Worksheet Printable
• Matching Halves of Shapes Worksheet
• Draw the Other Half of Shapes Worksheet
• Halves Worksheet
• Fractions Worksheet

Kindergarten Time Worksheets

• Telling Time Worksheet
• Matching Clocks Worksheet
• Cut-and-Paste Time Worksheet

Main Categories of Kindergarten Worksheets

• Kindergarten English Worksheets
• Learning About Our World
• Kindergarten Holiday Worksheets
• Kindergarten Seasons Worksheets

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• Kindergarten Sight Words
• Kindergarten Curriculum
• Kindergarten Worksheets

Kindergarten Math Worksheets

Free Kindergarten Math Worksheets! Our standards-based kindergarten math printables will help you teach counting, number recognition, addition, subtraction, number lines, ten frames, tally marks, sequencing, number words, ASL, shapes, and more! Use our free printable kindergarten math activities in your homeschool or classroom setting. Be sure to check out our 36-Week Interactive Kindergarten Math Curriculum for an entire year of hands-on learning!

Interactive Math Curriculum Notebook for Kindergarten. This comprehensive kindergarten math curriculum provides you with a full year of hands-on math lessons, games and activities.  This complete set includes an interactive daily warm-up folder and optional printable math manipulatives.  Covering 4 days/Week over 36-weeks, students complete a daily worksheet alongside a daily game or interactive activity.    Click Here for Sample Pages

Number of the Day Worksheets

Covering numbers 0-10, this set of free printable kindergarten math worksheets will fit perfectly in your classroom. Each day students trace, count, color, frame, write, draw and tally their number.

Number Worksheets

For students who are ready to work on numbers 1-30, this set of printable worksheets will provide them with TONS of hands-on fun and learning. Students will work on number formation, ten frames, number recognition, stroke order, handwriting, counting, and American Sign Language.

Number of the Day Printables

This set includes thirty number of the day worksheets. This single sheet teaches children number identification, number words, counting, and number order.

Shape Worksheets for Kindergarten

Free shape worksheets for kindergarten, featuring 13 different shapes for students to trace, find, color, and cut out. This is a great set of printables for building key fine motor skills needed during the kindergarten year. Make your own student shape book for students to practice again and again.

Making 10 Math Worksheets

A collection of Kindergarten Math worksheets for children learning to Make 10. Each page features ten frames for children to complete as reference, then an equation to write and solve.

Addition Color by Number Worksheets

Fun, free color by number worksheets to help your student practice single- and double-digit addition math facts (without regrouping). Designed for kindergarten and first grade.

Subtraction Color by Number Worksheets

Kindergarteners and young learners need regular practice with their subtraction facts, so make it fun with our free Subtraction Color by Number Worksheets. These six space-themed printable worksheets make learning single-digit subtraction facts easy and engaging.

Skip Counting Mazes

This is a small set of three progressive Skip Counting mazes you can use to build beginning math skills. Each page features a number line across the top and a fun skip counting activity.

More or Less Kindergarten Math Sheets

A collection of free Kindergarten Math Worksheets you can use to teach children about more and less. Each page features a reference number line as well as eight practice problems for children to solve.

Pumpkin Patch Math

Pumpkin Patch Emoji Math is a set of 6 worksheets that will bring a little holiday fun to your Kindergarten classroom.  Students work on key math skills including graphing, number words, tally marks, inequalities and more. 

Harvest Math Printables

This is a set of three engaging math printables designed to add some autumn fun to your classroom. These harvest-themed math worksheets feature inequalities, tally marks, addition and following directions.

Butterfly Number Form Game

This file folder game is perfect for children learning number forms. Children match each side of the butterfly to the correct match Expansion Set Increased Difficulty Set

Frogs on a Log Game

This is a file folder game for children who are ready to practice simple addition with values up to 5. Children solve the equation on the frogs by placing the correct amount of flies across the log.

Interactive Math Notebook   ( Free Sample Pack )

This comprehensive kindergarten math curriculum provides you with a full year of hands-on math lessons, games and activities.  This complete set includes an interactive daily warm-up folder and optional printable math manipulatives.  Covering 4 days/Week over 36-weeks, students complete a daily worksheet alongside a daily game or interactive activity.    Click Here for Sample Pages

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