Subtract a Number with Christmas — Kindergarten

Give a kindergartner a pictured group of trees, baubles and a stocking and a number to subtract, and the task is clear: count the group, take the written number away, and write how many Christmas things are left. The picture anchors the meaning and the numeral does the new work, so the symbol is met exactly when there is something real to take it from. Kept within ten, every answer can be checked by counting what remains.

This is the bridge between taking-away-with-pictures and arithmetic. A child who can count a set of Christmas things and then remove a written number is connecting the concrete world of objects to the symbols that will stand in for them, and keeping every total within ten means the link can always be checked by counting what is left.

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