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Subtraction Fun: Counting Fingers Worksheet for Kids

Children ages 4-5 use their own fingers as a built-in counting tool to practice subtraction, connecting an abstract number sentence to something they can physically see and touch. This bridges the gap between counting objects and solving take-away problems with numbers alone.

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Month 2: Learning & Development | Ages 5-6

This is page 12 of the pack. Ages 5-6 · KindergartenAges 5-6 · Year 1Ages 5-6 · UKGAges 5-6

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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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Curriculum

  • Subtraction > Subtraction Basics

How to use this worksheet

Look at the picture of fingers shown for the first problem and count them aloud together. Read the subtraction number underneath, then have your child fold down that many fingers on their own hand to act out the problem. Count the fingers still standing to find the answer, and write that number in the box, repeating the process for each problem on the page.

Materials needed

  • Pencil
  • Eraser

Extension activities

  • Use small toys or blocks to act out each subtraction problem by physically taking pieces away.
  • Create your own subtraction story, like 'five cookies, we ate two, how many are left?' and solve it together.
  • Draw a group of objects, cross some out, and write the subtraction sentence that matches the picture.
  • Play a subtraction card game, turning over two number cards and finding the difference with fingers.
Hemsweta Jain (Teacher Cheena), founder of RaisoActive

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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