Subtraction Teaching Resources
Browse subtraction worksheets, games and more teacher-created activities for your lesson plans!
Aligned with both the TEKS and Common Core curriculums, each resource in this subtraction collection has been carefully reviewed and curated by our expert teachers to ensure it's ready to use with your students. Browse printables and digital activities for teaching students how to take away, use subtraction to compare quantities, subtract two-digit numbers with regrouping, solve word problems and so much more!
Whether you're teaching your 1st grade class to add and subtract within 20 or your 3rd graders how to fluently subtract within 1,000, or you're explaining to a 6th grade group how to add or subtract integers on a number line, there are plenty of options for your planning.
New to teaching subtraction, or just looking for new ways to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definition to explain what it means to subtract, plus a look at the subtraction sign and more math vocabulary for teaching kids this whole number operation.
What Is Subtraction? A Kid-Friendly Definition
If you're teaching in the early grades and introducing subtraction for the very first time, you may need a definition that can help you explain what it means to subtract numbers.
Subtraction is a math operation we can use when we have a number and we want to find out what's left when we take away another number.
For example, let's say you have 5 toys, and your friend takes 2 of them home. How can you determine how many toys are left? You can use subtraction!
If you subtract 2 from the number 5, you are left with 3.
What Is the Subtraction Sign Called?
There are several math symbols and signs that help us understand the relationships between numbers in our math problems. Students should learn early on to identify the subtraction symbol, which is called the minus sign.
The minus sign (-) looks like a short line.
When it is placed between two numbers, it lets us know that we should subtract the number on the right from the number on the left.
For example, look at the subtraction problem below:
- 6-3
In this problem, the minus sign tells us that you will need to subtract — or take away — 3 from the number 6.
What Is the Answer to a Subtraction Problem Called?
Teaching math in elementary or middle school involves teaching a significant amount of math vocabulary!
When it comes to subtraction, one word kids need to learn early on is "difference" — this is the word we use for the answer to a subtraction problem.
What Are the Numbers Called in Subtraction?
Words like subtraction, difference and minus are commonly used in the classroom, but what about the numbers in a subtraction problem?
These are not typically taught to students, but keeping the names of the numbers in a subtraction problem in your back pocket can be helpful anyway!
- Minuend — This is the number on the left in a subtraction problem. It is the number that you are "taking away" from.
- Subtrahend — This is the number on the right in a subtraction problem. It is the number that you are "taking away."
Teaching Kids How to Subtract — 3 Fun Ideas From Our Teacher Team
Looking for some tips on teaching subtraction? This collection of resources is full of ideas from our expert math teachers, but we didn't stop there.
Here are some tips that may help you teach kids how to subtract and build fluency!
1. Focus on Missing Addends
Missing addend addition is sometimes easier for kids to grasp when tackling subtraction problems.
For example, rather than 17 - 8, gear your students to think, "8 plus what equals 17?"
2. Teach Regrouping With Base-10 Blocks
Students need to understand they aren't changing the value of the minuend in the subtraction problem, just what it looks like. For example, 42 is still 42, even if it's represented as 30 + 12 instead of 40 + 2.
This is where it helps to teach the concept of regrouping using Base-10 blocks.
3. Use Subtraction Rhymes
Using fun rhymes as mnemonics in subtraction can help your student remember the rules. Here's one of our favorites for teaching students subtraction with regrouping:
More on top?
No need to stop!
More on the floor?
Go next door.
Add 10 more.
If the numbers are the same, then 0 is the name!
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Split Strategy for Subtraction – Interactive Teaching Slides
Demonstrate using the split strategy for subtraction with an instructional slide presentation.
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Compensation Strategy for Subtraction – Teaching Slides
Teach your students to use the compensation strategy for subtraction with an interactive teaching slide deck.
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Subtraction using Place Value Disks - Worksheet
Subtract 3-digit numbers using place value disks with a printable 3rd-grade subtraction worksheet.
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Bar Model Subtraction - Math Color By Number Worksheet
Bring a bit of spooky math fun into the classroom with a Halloween color by number worksheet focused on subtraction using a bar model.
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Compatible Numbers for Subtraction – Slide Deck
Teach your students to use compatible numbers as a subtraction strategy with an interactive slide deck.
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Exploring Subtraction Strategies Instructional Slide Deck
Explore and teach multiple subtraction strategies with an instructional slide deck
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Mental Math – Subtraction Flashcards
Build up your students' mental math skills with a set of 36 subtraction flashcards using one- and two-digit numbers.
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Ten Frame - Printable Templates
Print a set of 10 blank ten frames to use in various math lessons.
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Trade It! Subtraction with Regrouping Game
Play a fun, hands-on board game in groups when learning to solve subtraction equations that require regrouping.
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Subtraction with Ten Frames - Worksheet
Model and subtract numbers to twenty using ten frames with a handy ten-frame subtraction worksheet.
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Part-Part-Whole - Addition and Subtraction Teaching Slides
Teach your students how to effectively use a bar model to solve 1-digit addition and subtraction number facts using the part-part-whole strategy.
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Printable Number Line 0–30
Make counting a visual experience with this set of 4 multi-purpose 0–30 printable number lines.
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Printable Blank Number Line - 0-120
Create personal number lines for use in math lessons with a printable blank number line template for numbers from 1-120.
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Adding and Subtracting Integers - Codebreaker Worksheets
Crack the positive and negative number code with four adding and subtracting integers worksheets.
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Jump Strategy for Subtraction – Interactive Teaching Slides
Teach your students to subtract two-digit numbers using the jump strategy with an instructional teaching presentation.
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Parts of a Number Sentence (Addition and Subtraction) - Posters
Display these posters when learning about parts of addition and subtraction problems.
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Linking Addition and Subtraction Worksheet
Explore the relationship between addition and subtraction with a fact family worksheet.
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Number Talks - Balancing Equations Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 40 task cards.
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Math Mazes - Addition and Subtraction
A set of puzzling mazes that require addition and subtraction skills to solve.
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Bobby's Board Games – Math Game Challenge
Challenge students to design and create a math board game.
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Dinosaur Math - Addition and Subtraction (Version 2)
Solve the addition and subtraction number sentences to color the dinosaur.
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Doubles Subtraction - Number Facts Board Game
Practice the subtraction strategy "Doubles Subtraction" with this board game.
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Candy Cane Activity - Double Digit Subtraction Tarsia Puzzle
Practice double-digit subtraction with regrouping with a Christmas candy cane activity.
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Thanksgiving Math Tales - Kindergarten Math Problems
Solve story problems using models with a Thanksgiving Story Problem interactive activity for kindergarten.
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5 Little Turkeys - Thanksgiving Subtraction Book
Learn about subtraction with a printable 5 Little Turkeys Thanksgiving Book!
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Spooky 3-Digit Subtraction - Maze Game
Practice three-digit subtraction with regrouping skills with printable Halloween Subtraction Maze worksheets.
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3 Digit Subtraction With Regrouping Game Cards
Practice 3-Digit subtraction with regrouping strategies with a printable set of subtraction strategy task cards.
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Spooky Subtraction - 3rd Grade Halloween Math Game
Practice triple-digit subtraction with regrouping with an exciting 3rd Grade Halloween Math Game.
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Spooky Halloween Math Centers for Kindergarten
Save time writing your October Math Lesson plans with a Digital Halloween math activity for kindergarten.
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Feed the Pumpkins - 1st Grade Subtraction Worksheet
Feed the pumpkins and practice subtraction to twenty with a Halloween subtraction worksheet.
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Number Bonds Math Center Activity
Use this hands-on number bonds (addition and subtraction) strategy activity in your next guided math group lesson!
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2-Digit Subtraction Within 100 - Puzzles
Practice a variety of subtraction strategies with a set of printable math puzzles.