Subtraction with Pets — Kindergarten

Here a child subtracts by doing, not by remembering. Each line lays out some cats, dogs and a rabbit; 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.

The last number you count among the ones left names how many remain — and that is the answer to a take-away. Linking the count of what's left to the result is the understanding kindergartners are forming, and crossing pictures out keeps it something they can point to and recount for themselves whenever they are unsure.

Children who enjoy pets 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 post office, or try subtraction with things that fly. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole pets collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.