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Free printable missing middle

Missing Middle is skip-counting with one number held back. This sheet lists 32 numbered items in two columns. Each item is a five-number run such as 29, 31, blank, 35, 37, and the instruction is that the row skips by the same amount. Kids who are learning to count by 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s get a lot of short, independent practice, and teachers like that every problem has a clear box to write in.

Solution page included
Printable Missing Middle puzzle page
Download the puzzle (PNG)Download the solutionSave to Pinterest
Peek at the solutionMissing Middle solution page

The free download includes a high-resolution puzzle PNG sized for a 6x9 inch page and a matching solution image with every middle filled. No signup is required. Print the worksheet, complete the 32 blanks, then check against the answer key.

How to play

  1. Read a numbered item and look at the four given numbers around the empty box.
  2. Find the constant skip (the same add or subtract from one term to the next).
  3. Write the missing middle number in the box so the five-term run stays even.
  4. Work through all 32 items in both columns.
  5. Use the solution image to check any row you are unsure about.

Print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper so the 32 numbered boxes stay large enough for young handwriting.

Frequently asked questions

Does this Missing Middle page come with an answer key?

Yes. A second PNG on this page shows every missing middle already filled in. Download it with the puzzle so a parent or teacher can check quickly, or so a student can self-correct after finishing the 32 items.

Is the Missing Middle worksheet free?

It is. You download the high-resolution PNGs at no cost, with no signup. Print them for homework, morning work, or a math tub. Classroom copies are fine for personal teaching use.

Who is Missing Middle a good fit for?

It suits first- and second-grade students who can already count forward and who are ready to notice a constant skip. The 32 items mix gentle +1 and +2 patterns with larger jumps, so a mixed-ability group can start at item 1 and keep going. Tutors also use it as a one-page check for skip-counting fluency.

How should I print so the 32 boxes stay writable?

Print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper and leave fit-to-page off. The 6x9 layout is dense; shrinking it makes the middle boxes too small for young handwriting. Black-and-white is all you need. Print the solution on a second sheet and keep it out of sight until checking time.

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