Show subtracting with a picture
Your child already knows what it means when the last cookie gets eaten. Showing subtraction with toys, drawings, and fingers connects that feeling to the minus sign, so it comes to mean some are gone and some are left. That picture carries into 1st grade, where your child solves take-away stories within 20 and learns that subtracting can mean finding a missing part. You'll see it whenever a tower loses its top blocks.
In this video, your child will learn to show subtracting with a picture.
The lesson stops at each question for your child's answer.
Three problems, each a little harder
Each problem is worked step by step. Your child will solve the last one before Bobby shows how.
Example 1
5 − 2 = ?
Example 2
You have 7 crayons. You give 3 away. Which number sentence shows the crayons?
Your child's turn
9 − 4 = ?
The three key steps
- 1Start with the first number.
- 2Take away the second number.
- 3Count what's left!
Mistakes to listen for
- Drawing a subtraction problem as two separate groups, such as 5 circles and 2 circles, instead of crossing out 2 of the 5.
- Reading the minus sign as plus, or adding both numbers whatever the sign says, so 6 - 2 becomes 8.
- Writing the numbers in the wrong order, such as 2 - 5 = 3, for a story about 5 frogs with 2 hopping away.
The lesson shows every step, so your child sees why it works. Read our parent's guide to showing subtraction in many ways →
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More Kindergarten Problem Solving, with questions your child answers along the way.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need an account to watch?
No. You can watch this on any device at any time. If your child would like to practice showing subtraction in many ways, and you'd like parent-friendly reports on your child's progress and growth, you can join Bobby's Math Club for unlimited free practice.
What happens when my child answers a question?
A right answer gets a cheer, and the lesson carries on. If your child isn't sure, they can tap "I don't know yet", and Bobby gives the answer and shows another example. Nothing is scored or stored.
Is this the same lesson that's on YouTube?
Yes. Here, the lesson stops at each question and waits for your child to answer. On YouTube, each question stays on screen for a few seconds, and then the lesson plays on.
Where can I learn more?
There's a short, kid-friendly lesson like this one for every Pre-K to 5th grade math skill, all in our video library. Our parent's guide to showing subtraction in many ways has more on where kids get stuck and how you can help at home. In the club, your child practices at just the right level, about five minutes a day, and you get parent-friendly reports as they grow. Learn more about how it works →
Practice showing subtraction in many ways
Questions at your child's level, about five minutes a day, on showing subtraction in many ways and whatever PK-5 skills they need to develop. Unlimited practice, free forever.
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