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This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 40 problems for Grade 1. Dancers theme. Answer key included.
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Max must solve math problems fast to find the missing dancers before the big stage show starts tonight!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.1.OA.C.6
Preview
Page 1 — Drill
Page 2 — Answer Key
What's Included
About this Grade 1 Mixed Add Subtract Drill
At age 6 and 7, your child is building the mental flexibility to switch between adding and subtracting within the same problem—a crucial leap in early math thinking. Mixed-add-subtract problems teach students that numbers can be combined or taken apart in sequences, mirroring real life: you might add three toy cars to a collection, then give away two. This skill strengthens working memory, number sense, and the ability to track multiple steps, all essential foundations for multi-digit math later on. When children practice these problems, they're also learning that the same numbers can be used in different ways depending on the operation, which builds deeper number understanding than isolated addition or subtraction alone. Mastering mixed operations at this stage prevents confusion and builds confidence as math becomes more complex in Grade 2 and beyond.
What your student will practice
- Solve mixed addition and subtraction problems with sums under 10
- Identify which operation (add or subtract) matches word problem context
- Apply the commutative property and understand operation order matters
- Track multiple steps and keep running totals in sequence problems
Common mistakes to watch for
Many Grade 1 students reverse operations mid-problem, adding when they should subtract or vice versa. You'll notice this when a child solves 5 + 2 correctly, then in the next problem "4 + 3 - 1" they add all three numbers (getting 8) instead of adding first, then subtracting. Another frequent error is losing track of the running total—they solve the first part correctly but forget what number to start with for the second operation. Watch for scripts where your child whispers or rewrites each number, which signals they're struggling to hold the intermediate answer in memory.
Create a simple "add and subtract" game using objects your child handles daily—blocks, crackers, or toy figures. Start with 4 blocks, ask them to add 2 (count together), then remove 1. Repeat with different starting numbers and operations in mixed order. This hands-on, physical approach helps cement the idea that operations happen in sequence and that the number they're left with becomes the starting point for the next step. Keep sessions to 2–3 minutes, and celebrate when they successfully track the running total without re-counting from one.