With my children now in this critical age of learning to add and subtract, I know that I have to provide them with tons of opportunities to explore subtraction through games, manipulatives, and helping them connect addition and subtraction.
Expression Sorts
Another way is to practice, is having children participating in expression sorts. Allowing children to participate in expression sorts builds their logic reasoning and can even prepare them for algebra.
It also helps children to begin to develop fluency in math. Though using manipulatives is an important part of learning addition and subtraction, it is also important that they begin to memorize basic addition and subtraction facts. Doing expression sorts numerous times allows children to become familiar with expressions and what they equal.
Patriotic Subtraction Activity
These free subtraction mats are a wonderful way to participate in these sorts, and the patriotic theme makes them perfect for summer or labor day!
Prep Work
- Print off subtraction mats and expressions on cardstock paper
- Cut out expression
- Put a magnet on the back of expression and use a cookie tray or place Velcro on mats and expression
Decide what numbers you want your child or children to work on, and pull out those mats and the expressions that match.
Children solve the expression and place it on the correct mat.
If your child is struggling to solve the expression provide some manipulatives. Show them how to count manipulatives to match the first number in the expression. Next help them take away the correct number. Finally, show them how to count what is left and help them realize that this is the answer! As they become more confident subtracting with manipulatives, see what they can do on their own from memory.
Enjoy this free printable and building your child's logic reasoning and subtraction skills.
Subtraction Practice
- Subtraction Bingo
- Addition & Subtraction Gumball Worksheets
- Subtraction Mini Book
- Subtraction Aquarium Game
- Deck of Cards Subtraction
- Subtraction Smash
Download Patriotic Subtraction Mats
Before you download your free pack you agree to the following:
- This set is for personal and classroom use only.
- This printable set may not be sold, hosted, reproduced, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system.
- Graphics Purchased and used with permission
- All downloadable material provided on this blog is copyright protected.
>> Download Patriotic Subtraction Mats <<
Rachel is a homeschool mom to four little ones, ages 2 to 6. She is a former public elementary teacher, and has recently began blogging at her page You’ve Got This. You can also find her on Facebook and Pinterest.
