Subtract a Number with Clothes — Kindergarten

Here subtraction mixes something to count with something to read. One side is a little set of shirts, socks and a hat the child counts; the other is a numeral to take away; the box holds what's left. Counting the clothes and then removing the written number — stepping the count down by that much — is how five- and six-year-olds start to trust that a numeral stands for an amount they could have crossed out themselves. Totals stay within ten so every answer can be checked.

Subtraction is still taking away here; only the amount removed has become a written number. A child counts the pictured clothes, then steps the count down by the numeral to find the rest. Keeping within ten means the answer is always reachable by counting back rather than by recalling a fact, which is exactly where five- and six-year-olds should be.

Children who enjoy clothes 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 desserts and sweets, or try subtract a number with flowers. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole clothes collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.