Addition and Subtraction Stories

Word Problems for Ages 5–7

Problem 1 — At the Bakery 🍪

Mia helped bake 8 cookies in the morning.
In the afternoon, she baked 5 more cookies.
Then her little brother ate 3 cookies.

How many cookies are left?

Problem 2 — In the Garden 🌻

Sam planted 6 sunflower seeds in his garden.
The next day, he planted 4 more seeds.
Sadly, 2 seeds did not grow.

How many sunflowers grew?

Problem 3 — On the Bus 🚌

There were 9 children sitting on the school bus.
At the first stop, 3 children got off.
At the next stop, 5 more children got on.

How many children are on the bus now?

Problem 4 — At the Pet Shop 🐠

A pet shop had 7 goldfish in a tank.
The owner added 6 more goldfish.
Then a family bought 4 goldfish to take home.

How many goldfish are in the tank now?

Problem 5 — In the Toy Box 🧸

There were 12 toys in the toy box.
Leo took out 5 toys to play with.
His sister put 3 different toys into the box.

How many toys are in the toy box now?

Answer Key

Problem 1 — At the Bakery

Step 1: Add the cookies Mia baked together.
8 + 5 = 13 cookies

Step 2: Subtract the cookies her brother ate.
13 − 3 = 10 cookies

✅ Answer: 10 cookies are left.

Problem 2 — In the Garden

Step 1: Add all the seeds Sam planted.
6 + 4 = 10 seeds

Step 2: Subtract the seeds that did not grow.
10 − 2 = 8 sunflowers

✅ Answer: 8 sunflowers grew.

Problem 3 — On the Bus

Step 1: Children after the first stop — subtract those who got off.
9 − 3 = 6 children

Step 2: Add the children who got on at the next stop.
6 + 5 = 11 children

✅ Answer: 11 children are on the bus now.

Problem 4 — At the Pet Shop

Step 1: Add the new goldfish to the tank.
7 + 6 = 13 goldfish

Step 2: Subtract the goldfish the family bought.
13 − 4 = 9 goldfish

✅ Answer: 9 goldfish are in the tank now.

Problem 5 — In the Toy Box

Step 1: Subtract the toys Leo took out.
12 − 5 = 7 toys

Step 2: Add the toys his sister put in.
7 + 3 = 10 toys

✅ Answer: 10 toys are in the toy box now.