Station Rotation: Skip Counting and Addition Subtraction Stories
A three-station independent rotation for 2nd graders covering skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s on a 100s chart and without one, plus addition and subtraction word problems and a mixed practice worksheet within 20. Students work on their own, with a worked example and a "How to Solve a Story Problem" routine built into the word problem station to guide them through deciding whether to add or subtract.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Set up the three stations so students can rotate independently, with the skip counting station first, since it builds the counting patterns the other stations rely on.
- Discussion question to use at the start of the word problem station: "How do you know whether this story is about adding or subtracting?" Pair students briefly so they can talk through the example before working alone.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: keep a 100s chart at the skip counting station and let students circle or color each number as they count, and have them read each word problem aloud or with a finger under the words before deciding on an operation.
- Extension for advanced students: ask them to skip count backward from a larger number, or to write their own addition and subtraction story for a classmate to solve.
- Plan roughly 15 to 20 minutes per station, so the full rotation fits comfortably within a 45 to 60 minute block.
Station Rotation: Skip Counting and Addition Subtraction Stories
A three-station independent rotation for 2nd graders covering skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s on a 100s chart and without one, plus addition and subtraction word problems and a mixed practice worksheet within 20. Students work on their own, with a worked example and a "How to Solve a Story Problem" routine built into the word problem station to guide them through deciding whether to add or subtract.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Set up the three stations so students can rotate independently, with the skip counting station first, since it builds the counting patterns the other stations rely on.
- Discussion question to use at the start of the word problem station: "How do you know whether this story is about adding or subtracting?" Pair students briefly so they can talk through the example before working alone.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: keep a 100s chart at the skip counting station and let students circle or color each number as they count, and have them read each word problem aloud or with a finger under the words before deciding on an operation.
- Extension for advanced students: ask them to skip count backward from a larger number, or to write their own addition and subtraction story for a classmate to solve.
- Plan roughly 15 to 20 minutes per station, so the full rotation fits comfortably within a 45 to 60 minute block.