Subtract a Number with Kitchen Tools — Kindergarten

On this sheet the child meets a picture and a number to subtract on the same line. They count the group of spoons, whisks and a pan, read the number after the minus sign, and take that many away to find the rest. Keeping one side a countable group of kitchen tools gives a child who is still shaky on written numbers a concrete place to start, while the numeral gently introduces the symbol their subtraction will lean on later.

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