Subtract a Number with Shapes — Kindergarten

On this sheet the child meets a picture and a number to subtract on the same line. They count the group of circles, squares and a triangle, read the number after the minus sign, and take that many away to find the rest. Keeping one side a countable group of shapes 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.

Reading the amount to remove as a numeral, while the starting group stays a set of shapes the child counts, keeps subtraction meaningful without keeping it forever in crossing-out. It is the gentlest introduction to written numbers in take-away — the pictures stay countable, the totals stay small, and the child learns the figure names the same amount they could have struck through.

Children who enjoy shapes 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 space, or try subtract a number with valentine pictures (black & white). You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole shapes collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.