Subtraction Games
From facts to regrouping
Final Countdown
- Ask each player to write the number "99" at the top of their scratch paper.
- Have the first player roll both dice, and add them together to find the sum. Then, have them subtract the sum from their starting number of 99. After figuring out their result, they record the number remaining on their scratch paper. For example: if they roll a 4 and 5, 4 + 5 = 9, 99 - 9 = 90. They would write 90.)
- Have each player take a turn rolling the dice and computing their results.
- The first player to get to zero wins!
Variation: To make the game more challenging, use three dice or start with a larger number.
Source: https://www.education.com/slideshow/subtraction-games-second-grade/count-down/
Final Countdown - base ten blocks
- Ask each player to write the number "200" at the top of their scratch paper and construct 200 with 2 one-hundred flats.
- Have the first player roll both dice one at a time. The first roll is the ones place, the second roll is the tens place.
- Then, have them physically subtract the number from their starting number of 200 using base ten blocks. Students will have to make "fair trades" turning a hundred flat into 10 tens sticks or a ten stick into 10 ones in order to subtract. After figuring out their result, they record the number remaining on their scratch paper.
- Have each player take a turn rolling the dice and computing their results.
- The first player to get to zero wins!
Math Monster
- Explain to your child that a friendly Math Monster has been living in the house, and that he has come up with a fun game to play!
- Draw a circle with a large X inside of it to divide it into four sections. This shape represents the Math Monster's head, with three blank spaces for eyes and one for a mouth. These spaces will be filled in if your child does not guess the equation correctly, and the Math Monster will win.
- Write the digits 0 through 9 on the side, to help your child keep track of which numbers he has already guessed. In the top corner, keep a tally of the two teams. For example, Monster versus John.
- Think of an equation, but do not reveal it. Write the equation, hangman style, on the paper or board. For example, 4 plus 5 equals 9 would look like: _ + _ = _. If you have a double digit number in the equation, such as 14 minus 6 equals 8, draw a line for each digit: _ _ - _ = _.
- Ask your child to guess a single digit to fill in one of the blanks. Cross off the digit from the list and fill it in on the equation. If the digit is not in the equation, draw an evil eye on the Math Monster.
- Encourage him to guess another number. Fill in the equation or another evil eye on the Math Monster.
- Invite your child to continue guessing numbers until the entire equation is filled, hopefully before all four sections of the Math Monster have been drawn.
- Draw a tally mark by the winning team! If your child lost this round, remind him that he has many more chances to beat the Math Monster! He will be improving his math skills along the way.
This simple game keeps children focused on math facts. You can adapt the Math Monster to more advanced levels of math, working toward double digit addition and subtraction, or multiplication and division. The game can also be used to reinforce mathematical rules, such as the relationship between addition and subtraction, or the effects of using "0" in an equation.
Source: https://www.education.com/activity/article/math-monster/
Equation Card Find It
- Deck of playing cards with the face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) removed or number cards 0-9.
- Paper
- Pencil
- Have your child shuffle the cards and arrange 12 of them face up in a 4 x 4 grid.
- Deal 2 more "Equation Cards", face up to the side of the grid. The remaining cards should be placed face down.
- Have her look at the cards in the grid. Then, create an equation with the two extra cards which equal the number of one of the cards in the grid. Here's an example of what happened when we played: The equation cards are 3 and 4. We added 3 + 4 removed any cards in her grid that equal 7.
- Each round should begin with her replacing any cards she removed from the grid, as well as the two equation cards.
- When all cards have been removed from the grid, the game is complete!
For more difficulty, use number cards with higher values.
Subtraction War
- Shuffle the deck of cards and deal them face down, giving each player an equal number of cards until the deck runs out. Each player keeps his cards in a stack. Assign picture cards, such as jacks, queens, and kings, a value of 10. Give aces a value of 1.
- Demonstrate to your child how to play the game: Each player turns two cards face up, reads the number sentence and supplies the answer. For example, if your child draws a 5 and a 4, he says 5 - 4 = 1. If you draw a 7 and an 2, then your number sentence is 7-2 = 5. Because your result is larger, you win the four cards and you put them at the bottom of your pile.
- If each of you has a number sentence with the same answer, then it's war! At this point, you'll reverse the math "operation" and do an addition problem. Each player puts four cards face down and turns up two of them. The player with the sum wins all eight cards.
- Set up the timer and play the game for 10 to 15 minutes. When the bell goes off, each player counts his cards. The player with the most cards wins. If one player runs out of cards before time is up, then the other player wins.
Source: https://www.education.com/activity/article/subtraction_war/
Printable Packet
I would not use the algorithm "rule" pages, but some of the center games could be useful: http://bcpshelpdeskelementarymath.weebly.com/uploads/6/3/4/6/6346067/sol_2.7_two_digit_subtraction_sleuthssubtractionwithregrouping-_workstation.pdf
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K-2 Centers (Addition and Subtraction)
Leveled games and activities: http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/addition-and-subtraction-centers.html
Subtraction with Regrouping
Check the "at home" section for interesting activities: https://educators.brainpop.com/lesson-plan/subtracting-with-regrouping-activities-for-kids/