1st grade balancing equations worksheets

Tap to see another sample sheet. The picture follows the difficulty you pick.

These worksheets teach 1st graders what the equal sign really means: both sides are the same amount, not "answer coming next." Your child judges equations like 5 + 2 = 2 + 5 true or false, and fills blanks so both sides match.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core 1.OA.D.7.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of problems you'll get

Write True or False for complete equations. Fill the empty places in the others.

  1. 4 + 2 = 5 + 1

    Answer: True

  2. 1 + 9 = 8 + 3

    Answer: False

  3. 3 + 4 = 7 + 2

    Answer: False

Every print pulls a fresh set of problems at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on a 1st grade sheet

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key after the problems.

How to teach this

Play balance scale with your hands: this hand holds 4 + 3, that hand holds 5 + 2. Do they weigh the same? Have your child find each side's total before calling true or false. Read every equal sign as "is the same as."

Watch for: Kids read the equal sign as 'the answer comes next.' It means both sides are the same amount. Kids fill the blank in 4 + 3 = ___ + 2 with 7. The blank needs 5, because both sides must total 7.

Common questions about 1st grade balancing equations

Why do some problems just ask true or false?
Judging an equation like 5 + 2 = 2 + 5 shows whether a child understands the equal sign. There's no shortcut that fakes it.
My child wrote 7 in the blank for 4 + 3 = ___ + 2. Why?
They're reading the equal sign as 'the answer is.' Total the left side together, then ask what plus 2 makes that amount.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Need a fresh set of problems? Print another copy. The difficulty you picked above stays.

Aligned to Common Core 1.OA.D.7. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated September 2026.

Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets