Make the Statement True Addition Subtraction Worksheet

The equal sign does not mean “here comes the answer” — it means both sides of a number sentence have the same value. That one idea is what first graders practice on this make the statement true addition subtraction worksheet. Instead of solving a single problem and stopping, students look at a whole equation, work out the side they can already figure out, and then decide what number the other side needs in order to match. Balancing an equation this way builds the flexible number sense that later shows up in missing addends, fact families, and early algebra.

This 1st grade addition and subtraction worksheet is printable and ready to hand out with no prep. The first section gives eight balance equations within 20, each with one blank; students solve the side they know, then write the number that makes both sides the same. The second section flips the question: the numbers are already there, and students decide whether a plus or a minus belongs in the box. A picture of a level seesaw at the bottom of the page gives children a concrete way to picture what “both sides are the same” really means. Use it as morning work, as a math center, as a partner activity, or as a quick check before a unit assessment.

What’s Included

• 1 print-ready PDF worksheet
• Answer key
• 8 balance equations within 20 and 4 choose-the-operation problems

Three things make this make the statement true addition subtraction worksheet work well in a first grade classroom. First, it corrects the most common misconception about the equal sign, because a student cannot finish an item by simply adding the two numbers in front of them. Second, every item asks for two steps — evaluate one side, then solve the other — so children get real reasoning practice while still working with friendly numbers within 20. Third, the choose-the-operation section makes students think about what addition and subtraction actually do, rather than reaching for whichever operation the page has been drilling.

Try building the same idea with objects before or after the page. Set a real balance or a homemade hanger scale on the table and let children add and remove counters until the two sides hang level. Write an equation on a sentence strip, cover one number with a sticky note, and have partners take turns guessing what is hidden. Play a quick true-or-false game where you call out number sentences and children answer with a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Sorting number-sentence cards into a true pile and a false pile is another easy station that takes five minutes to make and gives every child a turn.

Related Resources

• Make It True Missing Number Addition Subtraction Worksheet
• Missing Number Addition and Subtraction Activity
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