Two Step Problems Worksheet
Class Practice
Solving Two-Step Word Problems
Gather information and plan on the left, then show your work and solution on the right.
Part 1 I Do • We Do
Name:
Date:
Problem 1 • I Do (Teacher Model)
Apples & Baskets
There are 4 baskets of apples. Each basket has 8 apples. The students ate 12 apples. How many apples are left?
Gather Information
clue word • plan
Clue word I see: “”
Step 1 — I will first.
Step 2 — Then I will .
Reasonableness Check:
is than , so it makes sense.
Show Your Work
model • equations • solution
Step 1: × =
Step 2: =
Answer:
Problem 2 • We Do (Let's Do One Together!)
Tables & Students
An art teacher has 6 tables. Each table has 7 students. If 9 students are absent today, how many students are in class?
Gather Information
clue word • plan
Clue word I see: “”
Step 1 — I will first.
Step 2 — Then I will .
Think: Does "absent" mean students were added or taken away?
Show Your Work
model • equations • solution
Step 1: × =
Step 2: =
Answer:
Solving a Two-Step Problem — Steps
1
Read & Understand
Find key numbers and clue words.
2
Identify Info
Groups • In Each • What changed?
3
Step 1 Equation
Total = Groups × Each
4
Step 2 Equation
Add or subtract the remaining part.
5
Answer Sentence
Write solution with unit label!
Class Practice
Solving Two-Step Word Problems
Plan your steps, solve with two equations, and state your final answer clearly.
Part 2 I Do • We Do
Name:
Date:
Problem 3 • I Do (Teacher Model)
Shelves & Toy Cars
A toy store has 7 shelves. Each shelf holds 9 toy cars. The store receives a shipment of 24 more toy cars. How many toy cars does the store have now?
Gather Information
clue word • plan
Clue word I see: “”
Step 1 — I will first.
Step 2 — Then I will .
Hint: "Receives more" means the inventory increases!
Show Your Work
model • equations • solution
Step 1: × =
Step 2: =
Answer:
Problem 4 • We Do (Let's Do One Together!)
Shelves & Chapter Books
A library has 7 shelves of chapter books. Each shelf has 12 books. The librarian adds 16 more books. How many chapter books are there now?
Gather Information
plan • steps
Step 1 — I will first.
Step 2 — Then I will .
Check: Will the final number of books be greater or less than 7 × 12?
Greater Less
Show Your Work
model • equations • solution
Step 1: × =
Step 2: =
Answer:
Two-Step Clue Words & Operations Guide
Multiply
equal groups • each • per • rows
Add
adds • more • receives • combined
Subtract
ate • absent • left • fewer • gave
Check
Does my final answer make sense?
Two Step Problems Answer Key
Teacher Answer Key
Solving Two-Step Word Problems
Full solutions, model diagrams, equation frames, and remediation notes for Problems 1 & 2.
Part 1 Key Standard 3.OA.D.8
Focus: Multiply then Subtract
Problem 1 Key • I Do (Apples & Baskets)
Model Solution
There are 4 baskets of apples. Each basket has 8 apples. The students ate 12 apples. How many apples are left?
Information & Plan
Expected Answers
Clue word I see: “each” / “ate” / “left”
Step 1 — I will multiply 4 × 8 to find total apples first.
Step 2 — Then I will subtract 12 apples eaten from 32 .
Reasonableness Check:
20 is less than 32, so it makes sense.
Worked Solution
tape model • steps
Tape Diagram: 4 groups of 8 = 32
8 8 8 8 → 32 − 12 = 20
Step 1: 4 × 8 = 32
Step 2: 32 − 12 = 20
Answer: 20 apples are left
Problem 2 Key • We Do (Tables & Students)
Model Solution
An art teacher has 6 tables. Each table has 7 students. If 9 students are absent today, how many students are in class?
Information & Plan
Expected Answers
Clue word I see: “each” / “absent”
Step 1 — I will multiply 6 tables × 7 students first.
Step 2 — Then I will subtract 9 absent students from 42 .
Key Concept: "Absent" means students are away → operation is subtraction (−).
Worked Solution
array model • steps
Equal Groups: 6 tables with 7 each
Total Enrolled: 6 × 7 = 42 − 9 Absent = 33 In Class
Step 1: 6 × 7 = 42
Step 2: 42 − 9 = 33
Answer: 33 students are in class
Teacher Scoring Rubric & Common Misconceptions (Part 1)
4-Point Problem Rubric
- • 1 pt: Plan & clue word identified
- • 1 pt: Correct Step 1 multiplication
- • 1 pt: Correct Step 2 subtraction
- • 1 pt: Accurate answer with units
Common Error: Problem 1
Students do 4 + 8 = 12, then 12 − 12 = 0 apples.
→ Reteach: "Each" signals equal groups → multiply first!
Common Error: Problem 2
Students subtract before multiplying (e.g. 7 − 6 = 1 or 9 − 6 = 3).
→ Reteach: Always solve for total enrolled before removing absentees.
Teacher Answer Key
Solving Two-Step Word Problems
Full solutions, model diagrams, equation frames, and remediation notes for Problems 3 & 4.
Part 2 Key Standard 3.OA.D.8
Focus: Multiply then Add
Problem 3 Key • I Do (Shelves & Toy Cars)
Model Solution
A toy store has 7 shelves. Each shelf holds 9 toy cars. The store receives a shipment of 24 more toy cars. How many toy cars does the store have now?
Information & Plan
Expected Answers
Clue word I see: “each” / “receives” / “more”
Step 1 — I will multiply 7 shelves × 9 cars first.
Step 2 — Then I will add the 24 new shipment cars to 63 .
Key Concept: "Receives more" means inventory increases → operation is addition (+).
Worked Solution
tape model • steps
Tape Diagram: 7 shelves × 9 = 63, plus 24
7 × 9 = 63 + 24 new → 87 cars total
Step 1: 7 × 9 = 63
Step 2: 63 + 24 = 87
Answer: 87 toy cars now
Problem 4 Key • We Do (Shelves & Chapter Books)
Model Solution
A library has 7 shelves of chapter books. Each shelf has 12 books. The librarian adds 16 more books. How many chapter books are there now?
Information & Plan
Expected Answers
Step 1 — I will multiply 7 shelves × 12 books first.
Step 2 — Then I will add 16 more books to 84 .
Check: Will final books be greater or less than 7 × 12?
Greater (Correct) Less
Worked Solution
mental math • steps
Distributive Strategy: 7 × 12 = 7 × (10 + 2)
(7 × 10) + (7 × 2) = 70 + 14 = 84 + 16 = 100 books
Step 1: 7 × 12 = 84
Step 2: 84 + 16 = 100
Answer: 100 chapter books now
Targeted Intervention & Corrective Prompts (Part 2)
"What is the Hidden Question?"
Students get overwhelmed trying to do one single giant equation.
→ Prompt: "What must you know first before you can find the final total?"
2-Digit Multiplication (7 × 12)
Students get stuck multiplying by 12 without base-ten grouping.
→ Prompt: Break 12 into 10 + 2: "7 × 10 = 70, plus 7 × 2 = 14 → 84."
Reasoning & Friendly Numbers
Notice that 84 + 16 makes an exact 100 benchmark.
→ Celebration: Connect 4 + 6 = 10 (make a ten) to build number sense!
