Subtract a Number with Breakfast — Kindergarten

A group of eggs, pancakes and a banana sits beside a minus sign and a written number on every row, with the answer left blank. The child counts the pictured set first, then takes the number away to say how many breakfast foods are left. It is subtraction with one foot in counting and one foot in symbols: the picture keeps the meaning concrete while the numeral starts the move toward written take-away, and the small totals let a kindergartner check every answer by counting.

Pairing a countable group with a number to subtract builds two things at once — the take-away meaning and the first comfort with written numbers. Because the breakfast foods stay pictured and the totals stay within ten, the child can always fall back on counting to check, so the symbol is introduced on a foundation they can trust.

Children who enjoy breakfast settle into this quickly once crossing-out feels easy, and it suits a calm independent task. When this feels easy, take some away in subtract a number with camping gear, or try subtract a number with easter. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole breakfast foods collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.