Subtract a Number with Hospital Things — Kindergarten

Every row of this kindergarten worksheet pairs a group of beds, bandages and a stethoscope you can count with a number written beside a minus sign, and leaves the answer as an empty box. The child counts the pictured hospital things, then takes that written number away — counting back by that much — to find how many are left. Seeing a real group on one side and a number to subtract on the other is the first bridge from taking away pictures to working with symbols.

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 hospital things 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 hospital things 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 insects and bugs, or try subtract a number with pets. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole hospital things collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.