Subtraction with Camping Gear — Kindergarten

Here a child subtracts by doing, not by remembering. Each line lays out some tents, torches and a backpack; the task is to cross off the ones that go and count the ones still there. A row might start with a few and send one away, or start with more and cross several off, so the take-away looks different each time. Crossing out and counting the remainder is the most concrete form of subtraction there is, and it is exactly where five- and six-year-olds begin.

Keeping the starting group within ten means a child can always reach the answer by counting what is left rather than recalling a fact they have not met yet. That keeps the focus on what subtraction means — a group made smaller by taking some away — instead of racing for speed before the idea is secure.

Children who enjoy camping gear 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 christmas, or try subtraction with faces (black & white). You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole camping gear collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.