Subtraction is the process or skill of taking one number or amount away from another.
Everyday Mathematics
Here are 10 hands-on activities to teach Subtraction to adults, focusing on the listed topics, along with materials for each activity:
Object Subtraction:
Activity: Use small objects (e.g., buttons, beads) to demonstrate subtraction. Participants remove a specific number of objects and count what's left.
Materials:
Small objects (buttons, beads, blocks).
Counting mats.
Subtraction Flashcards:
Activity: Provide flashcards with subtraction problems. Participants solve them using mental math or manipulatives.
Materials:
Subtraction flashcards.
Pens and markers.
Subtracting One Game:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 1 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting One Bingo:
Activity: Create bingo cards with numbers. Call out a number, and participants mark the number that is one less.
Materials:
Bingo cards.
Markers.
Subtracting Two Challenge:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 2 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Two Relay:
Activity: Divide participants into teams. Each team races to subtract 2 from a set of numbers and write the answers.
Materials:
Number cards.
Whiteboard or large paper.
Markers.
Number Line Subtraction:
Activity: Provide a number line and ask participants to subtract numbers by moving backward along the line.
Materials:
Number line templates.
Markers.
Interactive Number Line:
Activity: Create a large number line on the floor. Participants physically step backward to subtract numbers.
Materials:
Floor tape.
Number cards.
Number Line Practice:
Activity: Use a number line to solve subtraction problems. Participants visually see the subtraction process.
Materials:
Number line templates.
Worksheets with subtraction problems.
Real-Life Number Line Scenarios:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., distances, time) to practice subtraction with number lines.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Number line templates.
These activities are designed to make learning subtraction interactive and practical.
Here are 12 engaging hands-on activities to teach Subtraction and Addition, focusing on the listed topics, along with materials for each activity:
Subtracting Three Challenge:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 3 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Three Scenarios:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., removing items from a shopping list) to practice subtracting 3.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Subtracting Four Game:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 4 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Four Real-Life Examples:
Activity: Use real-world scenarios (e.g., reducing quantities in a recipe) to practice subtracting 4.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Subtracting Five Practice:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 5 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Five Scenarios:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., subtracting items from a budget) to practice subtracting 5.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Fact Family Practice:
Activity: Teach participants how subtraction and addition are related using fact families (e.g., 5 + 3 = 8 and 8 - 3 = 5).
Materials:
Fact family cards.
Worksheets.
Interactive Addition and Subtraction:
Activity: Use manipulatives to demonstrate how addition and subtraction are inverse operations.
Materials:
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Worksheets.
Subtracting Six Challenge:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 6 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Six Real-Life Examples:
Activity: Use real-world scenarios (e.g., reducing quantities in inventory) to practice subtracting 6.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Ordering Numbers:
Activity: Provide a set of numbers and ask participants to arrange them in ascending or descending order.
Materials:
Number cards.
Sorting trays.
Sequence Building:
Activity: Provide participants with a set of numbers and ask them to create a sequence based on a rule (e.g., subtracting 3 each time).
Materials:
Number cards.
Worksheets.
These activities are designed to make learning subtraction and addition interactive and practical.
Here are 10 hands-on activities to teach Subtraction, focusing on subtracting specific numbers, subtracting with 3 numbers, and summarizing subtraction concepts, along with materials for each activity:
Subtracting Seven Challenge:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 7 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Real-Life Subtraction:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., reducing quantities in a recipe) to practice subtracting 7.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Subtracting Eight Practice:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 8 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Eight Scenarios:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., subtracting items from a budget) to practice subtracting 8.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Subtracting Nine Game:
Activity: Provide number cards and ask participants to subtract 9 from each number. Use manipulatives for visual reinforcement.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Subtracting Nine Real-Life Examples:
Activity: Use real-world scenarios (e.g., reducing inventory quantities) to practice subtracting 9.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Three-Number Subtraction Challenge:
Activity: Provide three numbers and ask participants to subtract them step by step. Use manipulatives or a number line for support.
Materials:
Number cards.
Base-10 blocks or counters.
Real-Life Scenarios:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., calculating remaining items after multiple deductions) to practice subtracting three numbers.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Mixed Subtraction Practice:
Activity: Combine all subtraction concepts (subtracting 7, 8, 9, and three numbers) into a single exercise. Participants solve a variety of problems.
Materials:
Mixed problem worksheets.
Base-10 blocks or counters.
Subtraction Relay:
Activity: Divide participants into teams. Each team races to solve subtraction problems and write the answers on a board.
Materials:
Whiteboard or large paper.
Markers.
Problem cards.
These activities are designed to make learning subtraction interactive and practical.
Here are 12 hands-on activities to teach Subtraction – Part 2, focusing on subtracting larger numbers, place value, and borrowing, along with materials for each activity:
Column Subtraction Practice:
Activity: Provide pairs of large numbers and ask participants to subtract them using column subtraction. Focus on aligning digits correctly.
Materials:
Number cards with large numbers.
Worksheets for column subtraction.
Pens and markers.
Real-Life Subtraction:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., subtracting expenses or measurements) to practice subtracting larger numbers.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Borrowing Practice:
Activity: Provide subtraction problems that require borrowing. Participants practice regrouping tens into ones or hundreds into tens.
Materials:
Worksheets with borrowing problems.
Base-10 blocks.
Pens.
Borrowing with Manipulatives:
Activity: Use manipulatives like counters to represent numbers. Participants regroup counters when the minuend is smaller than the subtrahend.
Materials:
Counters or blocks.
Sorting trays.
Place Value Subtraction:
Activity: Break down numbers into place values (e.g., hundreds, tens, ones) and subtract each place value separately before combining the totals.
Materials:
Place value charts.
Number cards.
Pens and markers.
Expanded Form Subtraction:
Activity: Write numbers in expanded form (e.g., 345 = 300 + 40 + 5) and subtract each place value separately.
Materials:
Worksheets with expanded form problems.
Pens.
Column Subtraction with 2-Digit Numbers:
Activity: Provide pairs of 2-digit numbers and ask participants to subtract them using column subtraction.
Materials:
Number cards with 2-digit numbers.
Worksheets for column subtraction.
Pens and markers.
Base-10 Block Subtraction:
Activity: Use base-10 blocks to represent 2-digit numbers. Participants subtract the blocks and count the total.
Materials:
Base-10 blocks (units, rods).
Worksheets for recording answers.
Step-by-Step Borrowing:
Activity: Provide subtraction problems with 3-digit numbers and guide participants through the steps of borrowing (e.g., regrouping hundreds into tens).
Materials:
Worksheets with borrowing problems.
Pens and markers.
Borrowing with Manipulatives:
Activity: Use manipulatives to represent numbers. Participants regroup when the minuend is smaller than the subtrahend.
Materials:
Base-10 blocks or counters.
Sorting trays.
Mixed Subtraction Practice:
Activity: Combine all subtraction concepts (subtracting larger numbers, borrowing, place value) into a single exercise. Participants solve a variety of problems.
Materials:
Mixed problem worksheets.
Base-10 blocks or counters.
Subtraction Relay:
Activity: Divide participants into teams. Each team races to solve subtraction problems and write the answers on a board.
Materials:
Whiteboard or large paper.
Markers.
Problem cards.
These activities are designed to make learning subtraction interactive and practical.