enVision Mathematics Kindergarten, Topic 7: Understand Subtraction
In this unit, your child is introduced to taking away. Kindergartners act out stories where some things leave, get eaten, or are used up, figure out how many are left with fingers, drawings, or objects, and begin writing equations like 5 - 1 = 4. It mirrors the joining work from the addition unit, and the next unit mixes both so your child learns which one a story needs.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Topic 7?
- Showing subtracting by taking objects away or crossing out drawings, and writing it as an equation like 5 - 2 = 3. Learn more about showing addition in many ways: Showing addition in many ways · Learn more about showing subtraction in many ways
- Solving take-away stories within 10, such as 8 birds with 3 flying off, by acting them out to find how many are left. Learn more: Adding and subtracting story problems within 10
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Start at 7 and hop back 2. Where do you land?
- 2
- 9
- 5
How you can help
- Line up 6 stuffed animals, let your child send some off to take a nap, and ask how many are still awake and how they know.
- Count the crackers on a plate before snack, then after your child eats some, ask how many were eaten and how many are left.
- Draw a row of balloons and let your child cross out the ones that pop in your story, then count how many are left.
Where kids can get stuck
- Answering with the number taken away rather than the number left, saying 3 when 3 of 8 birds flew off.
- Drawing 5 circles and 2 more circles for 5 - 2, instead of crossing out 2 of the 5.
- Reading the minus sign as plus and adding the numbers, whatever the sign says.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- subtract
- To take some away from a group and find how many are left.
- take away
- To remove some things from a group.
- minus sign
- The - sign, which means take away.
- left
- How many remain after some are taken away.
- equation
- A math sentence with an equal sign, like 3 + 2 = 5.
- difference
- The answer when you subtract; in 5 - 1 = 4, the difference is 4.
- story problem
- A short math story that ends with a question to answer.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with subtraction?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
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Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does enVision Mathematics Kindergarten Topic 7 cover?
enVision Mathematics Kindergarten Topic 7 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.