Subtract a Number with Community Helpers — Kindergarten

Here subtraction mixes something to count with something to read. One side is a little set of a chef, a nurse and a pilot the child counts; the other is a numeral to take away; the box holds what's left. Counting the people 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.

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