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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Adding and Subtracting Within 10 - Word Problem Task Cards
Solve word problems practicing addition and subtraction to ten with a set of printable task cards.
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Subtraction Strategies – Worksheet
Assess your students’ knowledge of subtraction strategies with a subtraction assessment.
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Exploring Subtraction Strategies Instructional Slide Deck
Explore and teach multiple subtraction strategies with an instructional slide deck
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Subtraction Game - 2-Digit Subtraction Dominoes
Use this printable set of double-digit subtraction dominoes to practice a variety of subtraction strategies.
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3-Digit Subtraction Using Place Value Disks — Interactive Slides
Practice subtracting multiples of 100 using place value disks with an interactive drag-and-drop activity.
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Subtraction Methods - Printable Mini-Book
Teach and practice various subtraction strategies with a printable 3-digit subtraction mini book.
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2nd Grade Subtraction Strategies — Task Cards
Practice using various strategies to solve 2-digit subtraction problems with a set of task cards.
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Number Matching Puzzle - Double Digit Subtraction
A hands-on game to play when practicing double-digit subtraction.
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Subtraction Made Easy: Counting Back on a Number Line — Printable Poster
Provide your students with a daily reminder of the subtraction on a number line strategy with a printable anchor chart.
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Mental Math – Subtraction Flashcards
Build up your students' mental math skills with a set of 36 subtraction flashcards using one- and two-digit numbers.
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Addition and Subtraction Work Mat
Practice addition and subtraction concepts daily with a printable work mat for students.
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3-Digit Addition and Subtraction with Regrouping - Posters
Break down the steps to use regrouping to find a solution with an addition and a subtraction poster.
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Addition and Subtraction Mat - Apple Tree
Solve addition and subtraction problems up to 10 with a hands-on apple math center.
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Trade It! Subtraction with Regrouping Game
Play a fun, hands-on board game in groups when learning to solve subtraction equations that require regrouping.
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Subtraction Strategies - Ten Frame Printable Bingo Game
Practice using ten frames to subtract single-digit numbers in a whole class bingo game.
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Subtraction with Ten Frames - Worksheet
Model and subtract numbers to twenty using ten frames with a handy ten-frame 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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Sunflower Subtraction Strategies Interactive
Practice using the ten-frame subtraction strategy with a fun self-checking interactive activity.
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Subtraction Using Picture Models Worksheet
Practice subtracting numbers to 12 using picture models with a printable subtraction worksheet.
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Pirate's Plunder - Number Line Subtraction Game
Practice using the jump strategy for subtraction from 20 with an exciting pirate-themed math game.
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Subtraction Strategy Work Mats
Practice using a variety of subtraction strategies to solve problems with a set of printable subtraction work mats.
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Part-Part-Whole Addition and Subtraction Worksheets
Reinforce your students' understanding of how a strip diagram is used to solve 1-digit addition and subtraction number facts using the part-part-whole strategy.
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Subtraction Strategies Puzzle Match
Practice identifying and using different subtraction strategies with a set of printable math puzzles.
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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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Double-Digit Subtraction Strategies Posters
Remind your students to use different subtraction strategies with a set of printable subtraction anchor charts.
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Adding and Subtracting Integers - Codebreaker Worksheets
Crack the positive and negative number code with four adding and subtracting integers worksheets.
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Adding and Subtracting Integers on Number Lines - Worksheet
Help your students learn to add and subtract integers on a number line with a printable adding and subtracting integers 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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Math Bowl - Mixed Operations Word Problem Game
Score a mathematical touchdown with by solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division word problems with an exciting football math game.
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Valentine Bingo - 2-Digit Addition and Subtraction Game
Add and subtract two-digit numbers to win this fun Valentine’s Bingo Game!
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Parts of a Number Sentence (Addition and Subtraction) - Posters
Display these posters when learning about parts of addition and subtraction problems.
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Mental Math Subtraction Printable Posters
Use this set of subtraction posters in your classroom when teaching different mental math strategies.