Addition and subtraction within 20 mystery pictures
Worksheets with addition and subtraction within 20, no times tables and no numbers above 20. Every answer is a row, the letter sets the column, and the shaded squares make a picture.
What the worksheets practice
- Addition within 20, for example
9 + 7. - Subtraction within 20, for example
14 − 8. - Problems with zero only as a fallback when a row runs out of other problems.
Every number in the problems stays within 20. The answer is a row number, so 18 at most.
Sample problems from a worksheet
This is part of a real worksheet. The answer is the grid row, the letter next to the problem is the column, and the child shades that square.
| Problem | Answer = row | Shade square |
|---|---|---|
15 + 1 | 16 | I16 |
14 − 9 | 5 | N5 |
1 + 5 | 6 | O6 |
19 − 10 | 9 | M9 |
13 + 1 | 14 | D14 |
20 − 5 | 15 | G15 |
1 + 2 | 3 | J3 |
15 − 7 | 8 | Q8 |
Which grid and picture to choose
All three grids work: 10×10 as a warm-up, 15×15 as the usual sheet and 18×18 for longer independent work.
There are 118 pictures to choose from (59 black-and-white, 59 in color). Depending on the picture, one worksheet has 22–110 problems.
Addition and subtraction within 20 worksheet FAQ
How is this different from the grade 2 worksheets?
Grade 2 worksheets add two-digit subtraction and times tables. This page is addition and subtraction within 20 only.
Why are answers never above 18?
The answer sets the grid row, and the largest grid has 18 rows.
Can I make sheets for a whole class?
Yes. Generate up to 60 worksheets at once, each with different problems, so nobody can copy a neighbor.
Worksheets by grade
- Grade 1 – addition and subtraction within 10
- Grade 2 – adding and subtracting to 100, times tables 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10
- Grade 3 – times tables to 10, division, addition and subtraction
- Grade 4 – times tables, division and two-step problems
- Grade 5 – parentheses, order of operations and two-step problems
- All grades on the home page