Subtraction Fun: Count and Subtract with Cute Animals!
Counting a group of animal pictures and then crossing out or removing a specified number teaches children ages 4-6 the concept of subtraction as taking away from a starting quantity, which is easier to grasp visually than through numbers alone. Writing the remaining total after the take-away step reinforces that subtraction results in a smaller, specific number, connecting the physical act of removing objects to a written numeral. Using cute animal pictures as the countable objects keeps a potentially tricky math concept approachable and fun.
Part of the pack
Month 10: Learning & Development | Ages 4-5
This is page 17 of the pack. Ages 4-5 · Pre-KAges 4-5 · ReceptionAges 4-5 · LKGAges 4-5
Made for your child
Taking away within 10, made for your child
A maths pack with your child's name in it: pictures that explain, practice at three levels, puzzles and story sums about them. Print a new set whenever they finish.
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See all 7 personalised packsAbout this worksheet
- Topic:
- Subtraction
- Skill:
- Subtraction Basics (Subtraction): Subtract numbers within 20.
- Pack:
- Page 17 of 29 in Month 10: Learning & Development | Ages 4-5.
How to use this worksheet
Have your child count the full group of animals in the first problem out loud and say the starting total. Read the instruction to see how many animals should be taken away, and have your child cross out or circle that many animals with an X. Ask your child to count only the animals that remain uncrossed and write that number as the answer. Repeat the process for each subtraction problem on the page, encouraging your child to recount the remaining animals to double-check their answer.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Eraser
Extension activities
- 1Use small toys or snacks to physically act out taking objects away and counting what's left.
- 2Play a simple game where you start with a pile of objects and take turns removing a few, counting what remains each time.
- 3Create your own subtraction problems by drawing a group of animals and crossing some out.
- 4Practice saying subtraction sentences aloud, like 'five minus two equals three,' using real objects.
- 5Turn it into a story problem, like 'three birds were on a branch and one flew away, how many are left?'
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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