Many children read the equal sign as "the answer comes next." These free printable worksheets show them what it really says: the two sides are the same amount. Work out each side, then circle True or False. An answer key is included.
If they get stuck
The answer key prints on a separate page.
The statements come in the shapes a first grader rarely gets to see. The working can sit on the right, as in 8 = 9 − 2, and that one is false. It can sit on both sides, as in 5 + 1 = 1 + 5, and that one is true. There may be no sum at all, as in 4 = 4, which is true and looks strange the first time. A child who thinks the equal sign means "now write the answer" will stumble on all three, and that is how you find out.
Half of each sheet is true and half is false, so circling the same word all the way down does not work. The false ones are close, usually out by one or two, so a child has to work out the sides and cannot judge by eye. Some are the classic trap: in 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, the 5 looks like the answer to the first sum, but the two sides are 5 and 7.
4 + 1 ? 5
