Subtraction means taking away or finding the difference. Year 1 children subtract within 20, count back on a number line and solve simple take-away stories.
What your child will learn
- Take away a small number from a group of objects
- Count back to subtract within 20
- Find a missing number in subtraction sentences
- Solve one-step take-away stories
Taking away and counting back
The first idea of subtraction is taking away: you have 9 balloons and 3 float away. Crossing out pictures helps children see what is left.
Counting back is the next step. For 12 − 3, start at 12 and count back three: "11, 10, 9". Each question in Subtraction Valley includes an explanation that models this strategy.
Checking with addition
Every subtraction fact has a matching addition fact: 9 − 3 = 6 because 6 + 3 = 9. Encouraging children to check answers this way builds confidence and accuracy.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What is 7 − 5?
- 4
- 12
- 0
- 2
Show answer
Answer: 2. Start at 7 and count back 5: 7 − 5 = 2.
2. What is 4 − 3?
- 1
- 7
- 2
- 3
Show answer
Answer: 1. Start at 4 and count back 3: 4 − 3 = 1.
3. What is 4 − 4?
- 8
- 0
- 3
- 2
Show answer
Answer: 0. Start at 4 and count back 4: 4 − 4 = 0.
Tips for grown-ups
- Act out take-away stories with snacks — then eat the answer!
- Draw a number line from 0 to 20 and hop backwards along it.
- Ask "How many are left?" and "How many fewer?" in everyday situations.