Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Subtract within 10
Addition and subtraction
CCSS K.OA.A.1CCSS K.OA.A.2England: Reception NumberEngland: Y1 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Subtract within 10.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Add and subtract within 5
Leads to: Subtract within 20; Subtract by counting back
Materials: Base-ten blocks, Number lines, Hundred square, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Add and subtract within 5). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
Hook · 5 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Subtract within 10. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Maya had 8 crayons and gave away 6. How many crayons are left?
- Step 1: 8 − 6 = 2
- Answer: 2
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Sam has 10 cards. Ravi has 4. How many more cards does Sam have than Ravi? → 6Prompt: Is something being taken away, or are we comparing?
- There were 10 beads. Then 6 were used. How many are left? → 4Prompt: Is something being taken away, or are we comparing?
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- There were 7 cards. Then 1 were used. How many are left? → 6Prompt: Is something being taken away, or are we comparing?
- There were 5 marbles. Then 3 were used. How many are left? → 2Prompt: Is something being taken away, or are we comparing?
Watch out for
- Subtracting the smaller digit from the bigger one in every column (52 − 17 = 45).
- Forgetting to add the regrouped (carried) ten.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Add and subtract within 5.
- Use concrete materials: base-ten blocks.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Subtract within 20; Subtract by counting back.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder