Adding and Subtracting with Bar Models Through Hands-On Learning

Bar models are a powerful visual tool for helping students understand relationships between numbers. By representing quantities with rectangular bars, students can see how parts and wholes work together when solving addition and subtraction problems.

This cut-and-paste worksheet set encourages students to match addition and subtraction equations with their corresponding bar models and answers. The hands-on format promotes active engagement while helping students develop a deeper understanding of how visual representations connect to number sentences. The resource includes addition and subtraction problems within 100, plus answer keys for easy marking.

This resource is also differentiated to support a range of learners. Worksheets marked with a triangle icon feature 2-digit by 1-digit calculations, while worksheets marked with a square icon contain 2-digit by 2-digit calculations. These icons are displayed in the top-right corner of each worksheet, making it easy to assign activities based on student readiness and skill level.

Creative Ways to Use These Bar Model Worksheets

This resource can be used in a variety of engaging ways:

• Maths Rotations – Add the worksheet to a small-group station for targeted addition and subtraction practice.
• Explain Your Thinking – Have students justify why each bar model matches its equation and answer, describing how the visual model represents the mathematical relationship.
• Create Your Own – Challenge students to draw a new bar model and write a matching equation after completing the activity.

The interactive cut-and-paste format makes this resource ideal for reinforcing visual problem-solving strategies.

Download This Bar Model Worksheet PDF and Editable Version

Use the Download button to access this resource as a ready-to-download PDF or an editable Google Slides version. Please note that you will be prompted to make your own copy of the Google Slides file before accessing and editing the resource.

Jenna Knowles, a TeachStarter collaborator, contributed to this resource.

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