Linking Subtraction with Addition


Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

Our recently released Math Pack 30 - Subtraction Problems includes 5 engaging activities for students to be immersed in early subtraction. 

Subtraction Skills

2 aspects of subtraction students need a lot of practice in are 
  • understanding how a subtraction situation can be written and solved
  • relating subtraction to addition 
This pack provides 2 activities for these skills.

In our activities little learners will talk about subtraction situations. They will identify and describe what is known - the total, and what is unknown - part of the total. They also begin to work with fact families to make the link between addition and subtraction. 

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

In and Out Subtraction Fun

In this write-n-wipe style activity, students will create a verbal story to match a situation. 

For example:
There are 7 fish, 3 jump out of the water and 4 are left in the water.
Alternatively, they might say:
There are 7 fish, 4 are in the water and 3 are jumping out.
Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

Students record these observations as math sentences. They will be interpreting each number as a total or part. They will also become very confident in an awareness of two different number sentences for every subtraction problem. 

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

As an alternative to write-n-wipe, students can use the cards as task cards and record answers on the included worksheet instead. 

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

Related addition and subtraction facts

The activity called 'Inside Outside' reinforces all of these aspects of subtraction as well, but we step it up a notch by having students also relate each subtraction situation to addition.

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

For example, here they might say:

There are 7 in the family. When three are outside, there are 4 left inside. 

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

Once again, number sentences may be recored on the worksheet or directly onto a laminated card. 

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

Subtraction and Addition Related Facts

I absolutely love bringing you fun and engaging ways to build the mathematical understanding and skills of your students. Our Math Packs provide you with 5 activities. Use one each day of the week, or for each of a series of 5 sequenced lessons to cover a skill area. 

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