Draw a Bar Model
Draw a bar model for each story. Label what you know and put ? on what you need to find.
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This is sheet #72024601.
How to do it
- Read the story.
- Draw bars for the numbers you know.
- Put a ? on the part you need to find, then solve.
Teaching tip
The bars don't need to be exact. Bigger numbers just get longer bars. This sheet is aligned with Common Core 3.OA.D.8.
About this worksheet
Stories to show with a bar model before solving. The answer key shows one way to draw each model.
What kids practice
A two-step word problem needs two calculations to solve, like "3 bags of 6 apples, and 4 are eaten. How many are left?" (3 × 6 = 18, then 18 − 4 = 14). Third graders solve these with any of the four operations, write one equation with a letter for the unknown number, and use rounding to check that an answer makes sense.
Watch for
- Doing only the first step and stopping.
- Using all the numbers in the story with the same operation.
- Not checking whether the answer makes sense in the story.
It's free to print, with an answer key. See the full two-step word problems guide for 3rd grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Two-Step Problem Steps ChartRead, plan, step 1, step 2 and check, with a worked example, a bar model and an equation using a letter. 
2. Two-Step Stories with + and −Two-step stories with addition and subtraction within 200.
3. Two-Step Stories with × and ÷Two-step stories that mix multiplication or division with addition or subtraction.
5. Write the EquationWrite one equation with a letter for the unknown number, like 4 × 6 + 5 = n, then solve.
6. Does It Make Sense?Stories with a given answer to check by estimating, then solve exactly.