Math Expressions Kindergarten, Unit 4: Partners, Addition, and Subtraction
In this unit, your child learns that numbers have partners, two smaller numbers that make them, like 6 = 4 + 2. They show adding and taking away, solve story problems within 10, find the partner that makes 10, and start knowing sums and differences within 5 quickly. It follows teen numbers and comes before solid shapes.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 4?
- Showing adding and taking away with fingers, objects, and drawings, and writing equations such as 4 + 2 = 6. Learn more about showing addition in many ways: Showing addition in many ways · Learn more about showing subtraction in many ways
- Solving addition and subtraction story problems within 10 by acting them out or drawing what happens. Learn more: Adding and subtracting story problems within 10
- Finding number partners, the two parts that make a number, in different ways, like 8 = 5 + 3 and 8 = 6 + 2. Learn more: Splitting numbers up to 10 into two parts
- Finding the partner that makes 10 for any number from 1 to 9, such as 6 and 4. Learn more: Finding the number that makes 10
- Adding and subtracting within 5 quickly, such as 3 + 1 = 4 and 5 - 2 = 3. Learn more about adding fluently within 5: Adding fluently within 5 · Learn more about subtracting fluently within 5
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
- Play partners with 7 stuffed animals and two chairs. Move them around to show different splits, like 5 and 2 or 4 and 3, and say each one aloud.
- Call out a number from 1 to 9 on a walk, and have your child call back its partner for 10. If you say 3, they say 7.
- Tell short story problems at the table: you have 6 crackers and give me 2. How many do you have now? Let your child act it out with real crackers.
Where kids can get stuck
- Finding one partner pair for 6 and thinking there are no others.
- Including the starting number when counting up to 10, so from 7 they count four more instead of three.
- Knowing 4 + 1 but not 1 + 4, treating them as two different facts to learn.
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
- partners
- Two numbers that make a bigger number, like 2 and 3 make 5.
- add
- To put groups together to find how many in all.
- subtract
- To take some away and find how many are left.
- plus
- The sign + that means add.
- minus
- The sign - that means subtract, or take away.
- equal sign
- The sign = that means both sides are the same amount.
- equation
- A number sentence with an equal sign, like 3 + 2 = 5.
- make 10
- Finding two numbers that add up to 10, like 7 and 3.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with number partners?
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 Math Expressions Kindergarten Unit 4 cover?
Math Expressions Kindergarten Unit 4 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.