Find the Missing Number — Easter — Grade 1

On each row of this Grade 1 worksheet a group of eggs, bunnies and a basket is shown, some are taken away, and the number left is given — the child works out how many went away. It is the missing-number side of subtraction: instead of being told what to take, the child sees the start and the result and finds the part in between. Counting up from what's left to the starting group is the natural way in, all kept within twenty, and the pictured Easter things mean a child can always check the missing number by counting rather than guessing it.

Working a subtraction backward — from result to the part that left — is how a child first sees that the same three numbers can be arranged more than one way. It is the seed of fact families, a Grade 1 idea, and finding the missing part with within-twenty Easter things keeps that seed planted in counting the child can actually do.

Children who like easter take to the puzzle of working backward, and it suits a child ready for a little more than plain take-away. When this feels easy, try find the missing number with forest creatures, or find the missing number with everyday objects. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole Easter things collection for grade 1 — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.