Fact families worksheets
Fact families for grades 1 and 2: write the four facts for each fact triangle, use an addition fact to subtract, and find the missing number.
Download the free fact families worksheet (PDF)
Fact families worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 34 questions on fact families, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grades 1–2, matching Common Core 1.OA.B.4, 1.OA.C.6, 2.OA.B.2
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new fact families worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh fact families worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose how many questions, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Fact families: a worked example (The fact family for 6, 8 and 14)
- The two parts are 6 and 8; the whole is 14.
- Additions: 6 + 8 = 14 and 8 + 6 = 14.
- Subtractions: 14 − 6 = 8 and 14 − 8 = 6.
What each part practices
- Part A (questions 1–6): Fact triangles with the whole at the top and the two parts at the bottom. Your child writes two additions and two subtractions for each.
- Part B (7–22): An addition fact is given, such as 8 + 5 = 13, and your child uses it to answer 13 − 5. This is the think-addition strategy.
- Part C (23–34): Missing numbers inside a family, in addition and subtraction, like 7 + ___ = 15 and ___ − 8 = 3.
The answer key on the last page lists every answer in order, so a grown-up or an older child can mark the sheet in a couple of minutes.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Cover one corner of a fact triangle with a finger and ask your child for the hidden number. That is a subtraction fact in disguise. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Starting a subtraction with a part: 6 − 14.
- Writing the same addition twice instead of turning it around.
What to practice before and after fact families
- Before: number line subtraction. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: subtraction within 20, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the fact families lesson and the subtraction chart.
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Questions parents ask
What is a fact family in math?
Three numbers that make two additions and two subtractions, such as 6 + 8 = 14, 8 + 6 = 14, 14 − 6 = 8 and 14 − 8 = 6. Knowing one fact gives you all four.
What grade is this fact families worksheet for?
It is written for grades 1–2 and matches Common Core standards 1.OA.B.4, 1.OA.C.6, 2.OA.B.2.
Can I get a different version of this fact families worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new fact families worksheet with different numbers every time, with its own answer key.