Subtract a Number with Flowers — Kindergarten

This kindergarten sheet asks the child to take a written number away from a group they can see. They count the tulips, daisies and a rose in the picture, then subtract the number the row gives them — removing that many — and write what's left in the box. Half picture and half symbol, it is the natural next step after crossing pictures out: the child still counts to find the answer, but now the amount taken away arrives as a numeral instead of marks on the flowers.

This is the bridge between taking-away-with-pictures and arithmetic. A child who can count a set of flowers 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 flowers 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 forest creatures, or try subtract a number with everyday objects. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole flowers collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.