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This Mixed Add Subtract drill has 40 problems for Grade 1. Junior Chefs theme. Answer key included.
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Max's kitchen is flooding with ingredients! He must quickly add and subtract to save the recipes before disaster strikes!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.1.OA.C.6
At age 6 and 7, children are developing the mental flexibility to switch between addition and subtraction within the same problem set. Mixed-add-subtract problems teach students that math isn't always about doing one thing repeatedly—sometimes you add, sometimes you subtract, and you need to pay attention to which operation each problem asks for. This skill mirrors real-world thinking: a junior chef might add ingredients to a bowl, then remove a spoonful that was too much. Practicing these mixed problems strengthens your child's ability to read carefully, make quick decisions, and build automaticity with both operations. Students who master mixed problems develop stronger number sense and confidence when facing unfamiliar math situations. Most importantly, this work prevents the common habit of applying the same operation to every problem just because the first one was addition.
The most common error is "operation carryover," where a student solves the first problem as addition and then adds for the next three problems without looking at the signs. You'll spot this when the child gives answers that are only sums, never differences. Another frequent mistake is confusing the symbols—a 6-year-old might see the minus sign but treat it as plus because they're moving quickly. Watch for inconsistency: the child gets 5 + 2 = 7 correct but then writes 5 − 2 = 7, revealing they didn't actually process the operation symbol.
Create a "snack station" game where your child places small crackers, cereal, or raisins on a plate. Call out mixed problems aloud (add two crackers, subtract one cracker, add three crackers) and have them move the food accordingly, saying the equation out loud each time. This tactile, verbal experience helps 6-year-olds cement the difference between addition and subtraction through their hands and ears, not just pencil work. Repeat this 5–10 minute activity 2–3 times per week for real progress.