Subtraction with Tools — Kindergarten

Here a child subtracts by doing, not by remembering. Each line lays out some hammers, saws and a wrench; 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.

Crossing out is a small action with a big idea behind it: a quantity can be made smaller, and we can say exactly how much is left. Doing it with pictured tools keeps the idea concrete and self-checking, which is precisely what take-away subtraction should be at five and six — seen and done, not memorised.

Children who enjoy tools 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 toys, or try subtraction with fourth of july things. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole tools collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.