This finding 10 more 10 less activity helps 1st and 2nd grade children use a hundred chart to find 10 more and 10 less. Practice page and answer key included.
This subtraction as an unknown addend activity helps K through 2nd grade students solve subtraction within 20 by matching each fact to its addition fact card. Answer key included.
This subtracting 10 using a number line activity helps 1st and 2nd grade students take away tens by hopping back on a number line. An answer key is included for easy checking.
Find the missing number in equations within 20 with this adding and subtracting unknown numbers activity for 1st and 2nd grade: matching cards, a recording sheet and practice, answer key included.
Children solve three-digit addition and subtraction problems with regrouping and fit each problem to its answer in 12 self-checking puzzles. For 2nd and 3rd grade; work sheet, practice page and answer key included.
This decomposing a ten frame activity helps kindergarten to 2nd grade students match ten frames to facts that make 10, with a practice page and answer key included.
This missing number subtraction activity gives 1st and 2nd grade students watermelon task cards that check themselves, plus a practice page. An answer key is included.
This ice fishing word problems activity gives 2nd and 3rd graders 12 task cards for adding and subtracting lengths within 100, with recording sheets. Answer key included for quick checking.
Using Count Back Activity, students count back from one number to another number to solve the subtraction equations.
Using Missing Number Addition and Subtraction Activity, students fill in the missing addends to complete the addition and subtraction number sentences.
This Let's Workout Our Brain Add Subtract Within 20 activity gives 1st-2nd grade students two mental math card games, a score sheet and a practice page, with an answer key included.
This add and subtract with frogs activity has 1st and 2nd Grade students flip lily pad cards and spin to add or subtract within 20, with a record sheet, practice page and answer key included.
Using Adding to Make 10 Activity, students match addition equation cards with missing addend cards to show equations that make 10.
Monster math triple digit subtraction activity for 2nd and 3rd grade: match 24 monster problem cards to cookie answers, with a recording sheet and answer key included.
This diving for sums add subtract within 1000 activity gives 2nd and 3rd Grade children 16 clip cards, a Dive Log and a practice page, with an answer key included for fast checking.
In this Popcorn Mental Math Activity, students mentally add and subtract 10 or 100 to a given number 100–900.
In this Let's Go on a Trip Addition Subtraction Within 100 Activity, students add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies.
Using Subtraction BINGO, students play BINGO to solve subtraction problems to 20 and build fact fluency.
Using Pirate Addition to 12 Activity, students match addition equation cards with sum cards to build addition fact fluency skills.
Take away, trade a ten, and smile
Second graders become fluent at subtracting within 100 and start working within 1,000. The big new skill is regrouping, when there aren't enough ones to subtract, so you trade a ten for ten ones: 52 − 17 → 4 tens 12 ones − 1 ten 7 ones = 35. They solve one- and two-step word problems, find 10 more and 10 less in their heads and see that subtraction can be thought of as a missing addend: 52 − 17 is the same as 17 + ? = 52. The click moment is when kids understand why they "borrow," not just how.
Subtraction with regrouping is tricky. These moves make the "why" visible before the "how."
Give kids base-ten rods and cubes. When they don't have enough ones, they physically trade a rod for ten cubes. After a few rounds with blocks, move to the regrouping pack and have them sketch the trade before writing.
Why it works: kids understand an idea best when they touch it, then draw it, then write it, the order the U.S. Department of Education recommends for elementary math.
Try it withDouble Digit Subtraction Regrouping Worksheet PackWorksheetsOpen it →Show 63 − 28 as jumps backward on a number line: jump back 20, then 8. Kids see subtraction as distance and find their own efficient jumps.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withAdding and Subtracting with Number Line WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Ask, "17 plus what makes 52?" and let kids explain their thinking to a partner. Talking about subtraction as a missing addend helps kids check their answers and spot mistakes.
Why it works: when kids say the precise math words, their understanding gets sharper, a recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it withSubtraction as an Unknown Addend ActivityActivitiesOpen it →These games make subtraction practice feel like a challenge instead of a chore.
ActivitiesRoll a number and race to say 10 more and 10 less. Fast answers earn a point.
Open Finding 10 More 10 Less Activity →
WorksheetsKids decide if number sentences are true and fix the false ones. Great for warm-ups.
Open True Number Sentences Worksheet →
WorksheetsSolve addition and subtraction word problems and act out the tricky ones with classroom objects.
Open Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Worksheet →Teacher favorites right now: Finding 10 More 10 Less Activity, Subtraction as an Unknown Addend Activity and Subtracting 10 Using a Number Line Activity.
Second graders should fluently subtract within 100, use strategies to subtract within 1,000 and solve one- and two-step word problems. They also mentally find 10 or 100 less than a number.
Start with base-ten blocks so kids can physically trade a ten for ten ones. Then move to drawings and finally to the written method once they understand why the trade happens.
It's a common mistake, like writing 52 − 17 = 45. Go back to blocks or a drawing so they see that 2 ones minus 7 ones needs a trade first.
Use money: "You have 50 cents and spend 23. How much is left?" Real situations make subtraction meaningful and quick to practice.
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