Subtraction Teaching Resources
Browse subtraction worksheets, games and more teacher-created activities for your lesson plans!
Aligned with both the TEKS and Common Core curriculums, each resource in this subtraction collection has been carefully reviewed and curated by our expert teachers to ensure it's ready to use with your students. Browse printables and digital activities for teaching students how to take away, use subtraction to compare quantities, subtract two-digit numbers with regrouping, solve word problems and so much more!
Whether you're teaching your 1st grade class to add and subtract within 20 or your 3rd graders how to fluently subtract within 1,000, or you're explaining to a 6th grade group how to add or subtract integers on a number line, there are plenty of options for your planning.
New to teaching subtraction, or just looking for new ways to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definition to explain what it means to subtract, plus a look at the subtraction sign and more math vocabulary for teaching kids this whole number operation.
What Is Subtraction? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If you're teaching in the early grades and introducing subtraction for the very first time, you may need a definition that can help you explain what it means to subtract numbers.
Subtraction is a math operation we can use when we have a number and we want to find out what's left when we take away another number.
For example, let's say you have 5 toys, and your friend takes 2 of them home. How can you determine how many toys are left? You can use subtraction!
If you subtract 2 from the number 5, you are left with 3.
What Is the Subtraction Sign Called?
There are several math symbols and signs that help us understand the relationships between numbers in our math problems. Students should learn early on to identify the subtraction symbol, which is called the minus sign.
The minus sign (-) looks like a short line.
When it is placed between two numbers, it lets us know that we should subtract the number on the right from the number on the left.
For example, look at the subtraction problem below:
- 6-3
In this problem, the minus sign tells us that you will need to subtract — or take away — 3 from the number 6.
What Is the Answer to a Subtraction Problem Called?
Teaching math in elementary or middle school involves teaching a significant amount of math vocabulary!
When it comes to subtraction, one word kids need to learn early on is "difference" — this is the word we use for the answer to a subtraction problem.
What Are the Numbers Called in Subtraction?
Words like subtraction, difference and minus are commonly used in the classroom, but what about the numbers in a subtraction problem?
These are not typically taught to students, but keeping the names of the numbers in a subtraction problem in your back pocket can be helpful anyway!
- Minuend — This is the number on the left in a subtraction problem. It is the number that you are "taking away" from.
- Subtrahend — This is the number on the right in a subtraction problem. It is the number that you are "taking away."
Teaching Kids How to Subtract — 3 Fun Ideas From Our Teacher Team
Looking for some tips on teaching subtraction? This collection of resources is full of ideas from our expert math teachers, but we didn't stop there.
Here are some tips that may help you teach kids how to subtract and build fluency!
1. Focus on Missing Addends
Missing addend addition is sometimes easier for kids to grasp when tackling subtraction problems.
For example, rather than 17 - 8, gear your students to think, "8 plus what equals 17?"
2. Teach Regrouping With Base-10 Blocks
Students need to understand they aren't changing the value of the minuend in the subtraction problem, just what it looks like. For example, 42 is still 42, even if it's represented as 30 + 12 instead of 40 + 2.
This is where it helps to teach the concept of regrouping using Base-10 blocks.
3. Use Subtraction Rhymes
Using fun rhymes as mnemonics in subtraction can help your student remember the rules. Here's one of our favorites for teaching students subtraction with regrouping:
More on top?
No need to stop!
More on the floor?
Go next door.
Add 10 more.
If the numbers are the same, then 0 is the name!
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Roll It! Operations Game
Use this fun game to practice all four operations and/or order of operations.
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Bump! Subtraction to 20 Board Game
Practice subtraction facts to 20 with a fun and engaging math game.
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Subtract From 10 Board Game
Have a “blast” with this space-themed “Subtract From 10” board game that gives your students the practice they need with tens subtraction facts.
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Using Doubles to Subtract Board Game
Practice using doubles to subtract with this fun, apple-themed board game.
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Adding and Subtracting Money Word Problems Game
Download this adding and subtracting money word problems game for a fun way to practice double digit operations using real-world scenarios.
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Ten Frame Printable Templates
Use these printable ten frames in various math lessons to reinforce number sense and other essential skills.
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Printable Number Line 0–30
Make counting a visual experience with this set of 4 multi-purpose 0–30 printable number lines.
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Printable Blank Number Line - 0-120
Create personal number lines for use in math lessons with a printable blank number line template for numbers from 1-120.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Escape Room
Engage students with this addition and subtraction interactive escape room.
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Subtraction using Place Value Disks - Worksheet
Subtract 3-digit numbers using place value disks with a printable 3rd-grade subtraction worksheet.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Match Game
Practice reading, modeling, and solving addition and subtraction word problems with a matching activity.
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Subtraction Strategies – Worksheet
Assess your students’ knowledge of subtraction strategies with a subtraction assessment.
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Think Addition - Fact Family Worksheets
Use addition to solve subtraction problems with this worksheet.
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Subtraction with Regrouping - Printable Math Mat
Explore subtraction with regrouping using a printable subtraction math mat.
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Subtraction on a Number Line – Worksheets
Practice subtracting two-digit numbers with regrouping using a number line and the jump strategy with a pack of differentiated worksheets.
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Design a Food Truck Math Project
Introduce your students to the world of Food Trucks as they master math, STEM, and art to design and run their own food truck.
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Color by Number Addition and Subtraction Worksheets
Combine math and art with our color by number addition and subtraction worksheets that feature problems with solutions up to 20.
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Money Word Problems Addition and Subtraction Worksheet Set
Use our money word problems addition and subtraction worksheet set to give your students differentiated practice modeling a variety of one and two-digit word problems.
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Strip Diagrams (Bar Model) Poster Pack
Help your students solve problems using the four operations with a pack of printable strip diagrams anchor charts.
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Money Task Cards - Multi-Step Word Problems
Practice solving money word problems with a printable set of multi-step word problem task cards.
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Multi-Step Addition and Subtraction Word Problem Task Cards
Solve multi-step addition and subtraction word problems with a set of printable math task cards.
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Counting Backwards to Subtract - Number Fact Board Game
Practice subtracting by counting backwards with a pair of printable subtraction games.
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Subtraction Using Base 10 Blocks - Worksheet
Subtract two-digit numbers using base-10 blocks with a printable subtraction worksheet.
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Subtraction within 20 - Color by Number Worksheet
Reveal the mystery picture by solving the subtraction problems with a color-by-number worksheet.
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Jump Strategy for Subtraction – Interactive Teaching Slides
Teach your students to subtract two-digit numbers using the jump strategy with an instructional teaching presentation.
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Addition and Subtraction Within 20 – Worksheet
Use this worksheet with your students when exploring addition and subtraction within 20.
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Addition and Subtraction Minute Math Booklet
Warm-up (or assess) with this 10-page booklet of addition and subtraction drills.
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Subtraction Detectives – Subtraction Strategy Activities
Engage your class with this subtraction interactive detective activity.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Teaching Slides
Introduce addition and subtraction word problems with this clear, interactive teaching slide deck.
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Addition and Subtraction with Ten Frames Worksheet Pack
Practice adding and subtracting numbers to twenty using ten frames.
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Word Problem Solving Mats
Use these 1st grade addition and subtraction solving mats to support students as they practice solving word problems.
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Addition and Subtraction Worksheets
Strengthen addition and subtraction skills with this hands-on worksheet pack.