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It takes several years for kids to truly master subtraction. Your little learner will likely be introduced to the idea in Kindergarten and will work continue to work on “taking away”, as well as other basic math skills, through about the 4th grade. You can help support the concept at home, with simple, playful activities designed to teach the concept and fluidity of numbers, which is proven to support long term math success, versus simply memorizing math facts. Below are a few of our favorite ways to practice subtraction:
Start With… Manipulatives!
Manipulatives are the name of the game for introducing the concept of subtraction. You can find manipulatives specifically designed for math activities, including everything from ten frames and dots to sets of dinosaurs. You can also make your own manipulatives, using anything from paperclips to marshmallows, toy cars, or wooden blocks.
No matter the tool or the game, you’ll want to talk your kiddo through the process. Count your original quantity out loud, then remove some of the objects, set them aside, and count your original set again. Then count the quantity you removed. Talk your mini mathematician through the process, using math vocabulary like plus, minus, and equals. Verbally share as you go, saying things like: “We have one, two, three, four, blocks. Let’s take away one, two blocks. Now we have one, two blocks. Four blocks minus two blocks equals two blocks.”
Then Try… Dice, Cards, or Dominoes
Once your little one is comfortable with the visual concept of taking a quantity away from another quantity, they’re ready to move onto mental math. Encourage them to think of the numbers they’re seeing as objects, see the total, then remove the quantity they’re subtracting.
You can make this mental math practice way more fun with dice, cards, or dominoes! Roll two dice, determine which number is bigger, then subtract the smaller number from the bigger one. Draw two cards and do the same. Or pull a domino from the box and subtract the smaller side from the larger.
And Finally… Riddles
Mental math wizards will get a kick out of number riddles. Write one number, 1-10, on each of 10 index cards, pick three, and lay them out face up. Then give your child a series of clues to help eliminate some of the numbers on the cards and help them determine which of those three numbers you have chosen.
For example, you might have cards with the numbers 5, 9, and 2. You’ll say, “The number I am thinking of is NOT 6 minus 4.” And “The number I am thinking of is NOT 10 minus 1.” Your kiddo will use these clues to determine that you are thinking of number five.
Like all learning, the best way to make it stick is to make it fun! Try these subtraction tricks with your kids and help lay the foundation for future math success.
It takes several years for kids to truly master subtraction. Your little learner will likely be introduced to the idea in Kindergarten and will work continue to work on “taking away”, as well as other basic math skills, through about the 4th grade. You can help support the concept at home, with simple, playful activities designed to teach the concept and fluidity of numbers, which is proven to support long term math success, versus simply memorizing math facts. Below are a few of our favorite ways to practice subtraction:
Start With… Manipulatives!
Manipulatives are the name of the game for introducing the concept of subtraction. You can find manipulatives specifically designed for math activities, including everything from ten frames and dots to sets of dinosaurs. You can also make your own manipulatives, using anything from paperclips to marshmallows, toy cars, or wooden blocks.
No matter the tool or the game, you’ll want to talk your kiddo through the process. Count your original quantity out loud, then remove some of the objects, set them aside, and count your original set again. Then count the quantity you removed. Talk your mini mathematician through the process, using math vocabulary like plus, minus, and equals. Verbally share as you go, saying things like: “We have one, two, three, four, blocks. Let’s take away one, two blocks. Now we have one, two blocks. Four blocks minus two blocks equals two blocks.”
Then Try… Dice, Cards, or Dominoes
Once your little one is comfortable with the visual concept of taking a quantity away from another quantity, they’re ready to move onto mental math. Encourage them to think of the numbers they’re seeing as objects, see the total, then remove the quantity they’re subtracting.
You can make this mental math practice way more fun with dice, cards, or dominoes! Roll two dice, determine which number is bigger, then subtract the smaller number from the bigger one. Draw two cards and do the same. Or pull a domino from the box and subtract the smaller side from the larger.
And Finally… Riddles
Mental math wizards will get a kick out of number riddles. Write one number, 1-10, on each of 10 index cards, pick three, and lay them out face up. Then give your child a series of clues to help eliminate some of the numbers on the cards and help them determine which of those three numbers you have chosen.
For example, you might have cards with the numbers 5, 9, and 2. You’ll say, “The number I am thinking of is NOT 6 minus 4.” And “The number I am thinking of is NOT 10 minus 1.” Your kiddo will use these clues to determine that you are thinking of number five.
Like all learning, the best way to make it stick is to make it fun! Try these subtraction tricks with your kids and help lay the foundation for future math success.
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