Subtraction with Images Worksheets
Visuals are very helpful to build upon counting skills and basic operations. When students are given clear and concise groups of images, they can easily counter operations and find sums and differences much easier. It is helpful to get them into the habit of crossing out the images as they clear through these problems. I would start by teaching them the skeleton format of a subtraction problem (minuend - subtrahend = difference). Then model this with the images which means that they will cross out the subtrahend value from the group that is present (minuend) to determine the difference. These worksheets and lessons help guide students toward subtraction skills by working on problems that provide both images and numbers for the minuend and subtrahend.
Aligned Standard: Related 2.NBT.B.5
- Lesson Lion- This one is sure to make you roar in the jungle!
- Strormy Guided Lesson - We chose problems that cover all places of borrowing. Lots of regrouping on problem 3.
- Acrobat Guided Lesson Explanation - Only the third problem requires a long discussion.
- Single Digit Integers - Some what basic, but great with touchmath.
- Double Digit Subtraction - We purposefully misaligned the cubes in this one to help students differentiate. This is for first time double digit learners.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Single and Double Digit Worksheets
The colors listed below are all one integer format.
- Blue and Green - Solve for the following subtraction problems.
- Red and Yellow - The figures make it easier to do these problems.
- Double Digit Misaligned - We just need to remove the number of blockson the right from the total number of blocks on the left.
- Purple and Red - Use the dots to help you solve the following subtraction problems.
- Single and Double Mix - Cross out all the objects that are being subtracted.
Mixed Integers
These sum up the entire skill in three sheets.
- Mixed Subtracting Integers Review - Solve the single and double digit subtraction problems.
- Mixed Subtraction with Dots 3 Just match the values and cross them out then count the remaining number of objects.
- Mixed Integers - A real jumble of choices are available here.
Why Is It Helpful to Learn to Subtract with Blocks?
The worksheets above focus on the use of images, which are great when students are not in a situation where they can readily touch and feel something. Anything that you can touch, feel, see, or hold in your hand is always a better idea to make your learning easy. It helps in keeping things in mind for the longest time. While there are so many ways out there to teach your kids about subtraction and addition, one of the best ways is to let them see and observe things. Therefore, the idea of regrouping or borrowing is very important for students to understand.
However, you can make this process of borrowing easy by introducing your kids to blocks in order for them to learn the concept of 'taking away.' Use single blocks, base ten blocks, and base a hundred blocks to solve subtraction problems. For example, you have a problem; 10 - 4. To get the answer for this problem, use base ten blocks. Since the blocks are breakable, you can take away 4 blocks away from the base ten and then count the remaining blocks to get your answer. Now assume you have a bit more difficult problem at hand to solve. Use the base hundred blocks to solve it.
A really cool game to play with students is to have them get in teams and model a different series of subtraction problems. You can build the game in an assembly line manner where the first student models the problem and the second students finds the difference without seeing the original problem. Building this into a team game really engages students in the learning process.