Subtract a Number with Things That Fly — Kindergarten

Here subtraction mixes something to count with something to read. One side is a little set of kites, planes and a balloon the child counts; the other is a numeral to take away; the box holds what's left. Counting the flying things 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.

Reading the amount to remove as a numeral, while the starting group stays a set of flying things 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 things that fly 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 tools, or try subtract a number with zoo animals. You can also browse every subtraction worksheet or the whole flying things collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.