Summary
What are some simple and effective subtraction for kindergarten worksheets and activities you can use today? There are so many resources out there that can be overwhelming. Kindergarten is where students are introduced to the meaning of subtraction and begin to solve problems within 10. Hence, using concrete materials is crucial for developing a conceptual understanding of subtraction.
What are some simple and effective subtraction for kindergarten worksheets and activities you can use today? There are so many resources out there that can be overwhelming. Kindergarten is where students are introduced to the meaning of subtraction and begin to solve problems within 10. Hence, using concrete materials is crucial for developing a conceptual understanding of subtraction.
Get this Freebie of 71 Math Number Puzzles delivered to your inbox to use with your students. Providing opportunities to do math puzzles daily is one way to help students develop their number sense and make math fun.
Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a positive classroom community in mathematics. You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
I love teaching Kindergarten because everything is so new and exciting for students. I like to begin by having students act out subtraction situations. Students love stories related to food because they can relate! For example, “You had 3 cookies, and then your sister ate 2 cookies. How many cookies do you have left?” Stories like these allow students to make connections to their lives and begin to understand what subtraction means. Because who doesn’t understand someone taking away your cookies?! I have broken down the standard to what needs to be taught and some effective strategies for teaching those skills.
Understand Subtraction in Kindergarten
K.OA.A. 1 Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds, acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
Students develop an understanding of the meaning of addition and subtraction by modeling how they can put together (compose) or take apart (decompose) up to 10 objects in different ways. Start with concrete materials, then move to drawing pictures, and then finally to addition and subtraction expressions and equations.
- Begin using numbers to 5, then extend to numbers up to 10.
- Introduce subtraction terminology: take away, minus, subtract, take apart, separate, compare, and difference.
- Match models with equations and expressions provided by the teacher.
- Composing and Decomposing Numbers Kindergarten Anchor Chart is a great visual of how numbers are put together and taken apart.
- Have students practice Decomposing and Composing Numbers.
K.OA.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems and add and subtract within 10. Use objects or drawings to represent the problem.
Students should first use concrete objects and later use drawings to represent what is happening in the problem. Teachers should provide problems in story contexts with numbers up to 5 and extend to 10 for students to solve using objects or drawings.
Possible Situations for Addition and Subtraction Word Problems in Kindergarten:
- Add to- Result unknown (4 + 3= ?)
- Take From- Result unknown (4-1=?)
- Put Together- Total unknown (3 + 4=?)
- Take Apart- Total Unknown (5 = ? + ?)
Subtraction within 5
K.OA.A.5 Fluently add and subtract within 5 by the end of Kindergarten. Provide students with various experiences with sums to 5 using objects such as counters, dot cards, five frames, and ten frames.
- Begin with 5 frames with counters to develop and reinforce sums to 5.
- Use a variety of materials to represent facts within 5.
Subtraction To 10
Kindergarten students begin with subtraction to 5, then extend to 10. However, the expectation is fluency within 5 by the end of Kindergarten. In first grade, students are expected to be fluent within 10.
How to Teach Subtraction to Kindergarten Students
The first two standards (K.OA.A.1 and K.OA.A.2) can be taught together. This is where you introduce subtraction and provide students with various experiences. K.OA.A.5 is after students understand what subtraction is and have them practice their facts to develop fluency within 5.
Students first need to understand that in subtraction, we are taking away. This is where acting out subtraction story problems becomes so valuable. Students can relate to what is happening. Then, you can introduce “minus” as taking away. Using literature books is a great way to come up with subtraction situations.
The first step is to have students act out subtraction situations concretely (using their bodies or counters). Then, you can begin to use drawings and pictures. Finally, beginning to use expressions and equations to represent subtractions.
Composing and Decomposing Numbers Kindergarten Anchor Chart is a great visual of how numbers are put together and taken apart. Have students practice Decomposing and Composing Numbers with these digital and paper activities.
Part- Part- Whole
Using the part-part-whole model helps learners see the relationship between the whole number and its parts and helps build number sense which is the foundation for mathematical learning. Check out this link to find a free part-part-whole mat printable and digital version. Part- Part- Whole Mat
Provide students with a part-part-whole mat and model subtraction problems using the mat. Read more… How to Use the Powerful Part-Part-Whole Strategy to Improve Number Sense.
Five Frames & Ten Frames
A Five Frame has five equal spaces in a row. For children in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten who have not yet explored a ten frame, it is a good idea to begin with a five frame. The five frame focuses on the relationship to 5 as an anchor for numbers. These are often used before introducing a ten frame. Check out this link to find a free five-frame printable and digital version. Five Frames Template
A ten frame is a rectangle with ten equal spaces. It has five spaces on top and five on the bottom. Ten frames are a fantastic tool used in kindergarten and first grade to help build an understanding of counting, place value, adding, subtracting, and more. Check out this link to find a free Ten Frames Template. Ten Frames Free Printable. Read more… Why Using Ten Frames for Math to Develop Understanding is Effective?
Activities for Subtraction Kindergarten and Beyond
Making subtraction fun and real-life with these simple ideas can help students be successful with these skills.
Subtraction Story Problems
Acting out subtraction story problems (with their bodies or counters) can make subtraction fun and real life. I like to use situations in literature books to connect with students.
Monster Musical Chairs (MathStart) and Ten Sly Piranhas are two of my favorite books to use with subtraction. Students can use counters to model what is happening in the book. Here is a list of other books to use when teaching subtraction.
Acting out problems is a hands-on and engaging subtraction activity that encourages collaboration among students. You can even use a five or ten frame by creating one with tape on the floor. First, have students stand in the spaces to represent 10 counters. Next, read a subtraction story problem aloud and have students act the problem out, using themselves as counters in the ten-frame. Then, have them all say the subtraction sentence aloud.
I also think using food, animals, or toys in story problems helps students connect to what is happening. The more real-world connections we can make, the more students can see the math all around them.
Subtraction for Kindergarten Games
Talking, playing, and solving math throughout the day- not just during math class builds number sense and the love of mathematics.
Sign up to get this Freebie of 71 Math Puzzles for fun to use with your students. These are great for warm-up, whole class, small group, or independent work. You can also print and put the puzzles up on a bulletin board. Then, have strips of paper for students to write down their answers. It is a great early finisher activity and allows students to see math as fun. Read more.. How to use Engaging Math Puzzles for Fun to Build Number Sense.
One easy subtraction game that can easily be differentiated is Subtraction to 0. Students start with a set number of counters. They can be in a pile, on a five-frame, ten-frame, or part-part-whole mat. Then, have them roll a number cube or dice to determine how many to take away. Students then take away that many counters and say how many they have left. The first person to 0 is the winner. To make the game more challenging, you could increase the number of counters or have students write down the equations for each turn. You can also play the game with a stack of Lego blocks. Students roll the dice, take away that many legos, and say the subtraction equation. The first to zero wins!
Another game is called, “How many are hiding?” Start by laying a few small objects on a table. Next, cover some with your hand or cup. Then, ask how many are left and how many you’re hiding. Simple but effective.
Online Subtraction Games
Balloon Pop online Subtraction Game is a fun online subtraction game.
Subtraction Centers for Kindergarten
Literature books and games that you have used in class make great centers.
In addition, subtraction mats can be placed in plastic sleeves or laminated so that they can be used over and over again.
The Worksheet on Subtraction for Kindergarten resource has 84 Google Slides and 84 subtraction kindergarten worksheets. First, they introduce the minus sign, then use five- frames to solve subtraction within 5 problems and have kindergarten subtraction story problems. These are great to use in a math class for a warm-up, lesson, small group, center, or independent practice.
Teachers can model solving the problem using the digital resources while students have paper copies, use only the digital resources for virtual learning, or paper copies for in-person learning. In addition, Valentine’s Day Subtraction Resource has 4 Google Slides and 4 Subtraction kindergarten worksheets that you can try out for free.
Subtraction Practice Kindergarten Ideas
Kindergarten Subtraction Worksheets with Pictures
- 84 Google Slides and 84 subtraction kindergarten worksheets. These resources introduce the minus sign, use five- frames to solve subtraction within 5 problems, and have kindergarten subtraction story problems.
- Subtraction to 10: 88 Google Slides to use with students to practice subtraction within 10.
- Math Facts Bundle: 160 Google slides for adding and subtracting to 20. Here are ready-made slides with movable themed pieces. There are 16 addition fact practice slides in each set with ten frames and counters. In addition, there are 24 subtraction fact practice –12 with movable pieces 12 with text boxes.
- Try Out Subtraction within 5 Valentine’s Day Freebie
Kindergarten Subtraction Story Problems
- 100 slides for Kindergarten Subtraction Practice. Multiple formats for students to practice subtraction facts within 5. Some slides have kindergarten subtraction story problems.
- 84 Google Slides and 84 subtraction kindergarten worksheets. These resources introduce the minus sign, use five- frames to solve subtraction within 5 problems and have kindergarten subtraction story problems.
Additional Resources & Materials
- Adding and Subtracting; Teachers have lots of creative ways to increase fluency in these two basic computations.
- What Are Fast and Easy Alternatives to Worksheets on Comparing Numbers?
- Why Using Ten Frames for Math to Develop Understanding is Effective?
- 5 Powerful and Easy Lessons Teaching Students How to Get a Growth Mindset
Subtraction Songs
Subtraction for Kindergarten
Subtraction in Kindergarten should be fun and hands-on. Begin with composing and decomposing numbers to 5, then 10. Next, act out subtraction story problems and then use counters and pictures. Playing simple “take away” games with students allows students multiple opportunities to practice these skills and learn their subtraction facts to 5.
Providing opportunities to do math puzzles daily is one way to help students develop their number sense and make math fun. So get this Freebie of 71 Math Number Puzzles delivered to your inbox to use with your students. You can also sign up to receive other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
I am always looking for new simple, and effective teaching ideas that do not require hours of planning. What are some ways you like to introduce subtraction to students? Hopefully, you feel ready to start teaching students with these subtraction for kindergarten worksheets and activities.
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