Subtraction with Fourth of July Things — Kindergarten

Each row of this kindergarten worksheet shows a group of flags, stars and a drum and asks the child to cross some of them out, then write how many are left. Crossing-out is the heart of it: the child physically removes the Fourth of July things that go away and counts the ones that remain, so subtraction is something they do with their hands before it is ever a written symbol. The pictures carry the whole problem, so a child who cannot yet read an equation can still solve every line.

Taking a few away and counting what is left is the most concrete form of subtraction there is, and it is exactly where five- and six-year-olds begin. Modelling the take-away with pictures the child can cross out keeps the meaning — fewer than we started with — front and centre, well within ten so every answer can be checked by counting.

Children who enjoy fourth of july things take to crossing out quickly, and it works as a calm hands-on task or a whole-class action on the board. When this feels easy, take some away in subtraction with accessories, or try subtraction with birds. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole Fourth of July things collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.