Story problems are a great way to help young children learn math skills.  You don’t have to be an artist to make simple story problems for the children.  These are good to use when you lunch is running late or you are delayed as a group.  Just pull out your board and dry erase marker and begin.

• The class went out to play.  2 children are in the sandbox and one child is next to the sand box.  How many children are there in total?
• Pedro has 2 pieces of candy.  Juan gives him 2 more.  Now how many pieces of candy does Pedro have?
• The plate had 6 cookies on it.  How will you share them evenly with your friend?
• 5 fish were swimming in the pond.  A fisherman comes and catches 2.  How many fish are left swimming in the pond?
• 5 bears are playing together.  One goes home.  Now how many bears are left playing?
• There are 3 friends.  How many apples will you need for each to have 1?
• There are 4 friends.  The wagon they are using only holds 2, how many friends will not be able to get in the wagon?
• How many children today are wearing long sleeves?  How many are wearing short sleeves?  Are there more children wearing long sleeves or short sleeves today?
• Robin and Rob are getting dressed.  They put on their shoes.  How many shoes are there in total?  How many pairs of shoes are there?  Why?
• There are 5 ladybugs sitting on the rock.  2 flew away, how many lady bugs are left?
• There are 3 cats sitting on the stairs.  There are two cats looking out the window.  How many more cats are sitting on the stairs?
• Margo found 4 shells at the beach.  On the way home she lost 3.  How many shells does Margo have?
• 4 fish are swimming together in the pond.  3 more join them.  Now how many fish are swimming together in the pond?
• There are 6 children sitting at the table waiting for lunch.  1 got up to wash her hands.  How many children were left sitting at the table?
• There were 3 spoons at the table. 1 for each bowl of soup.  How many bowls of soup were at the table?
• Terri found 3 rocks that were smooth and 4 rocks that were rough.  Did she find more smooth rocks or rough rocks?
• The truck was carrying pumpkins to the store.  1 fell off the truck.  There were 4 pumpkins left on the truck.  How many pumpkins did the driver have all together?
• There are 3 sailboats in the lake.  There are 2 more in the river.  How many more sailboats were in the water?  How many sailboats were there in all?
• Kerry ate one cookie.  Roger ate 2 more than Kerry.  How many cookies did Roger eat?
• There were 4 boys at school today and 3 girls.  Were there more boys or girls at school today?
• The chicken laid 2 eggs.  The robin laid 2 eggs, and the blue jay laid 2 eggs.  How many eggs are there?
• 3 friends are playing in the house center.  The sign says 4 may play there.  How many more children can enter the center?
• 3 frogs were playing in the water.  Some more frogs hopped over to join them. Then there was 5 frogs total playing in the water.  How many frogs hopped over to join them?
• There were 3 pink flowers and 1 yellow flower in the vase.  How many total flowers were in the vase?  How many more pink flowers were there than yellow flowers?