Subtraction can cause even the most confident students to become anxious about their math assignments, according to Kathleen Fletcher Bacer, author of "Hands on Math: Learning Addition and Subtraction Through Manipulative Activities." Subtraction requires children to think more abstractly than addition does. It also requires them to think about the unknown, a concept that is difficult for many elementary age students. You can help your child practice subtraction with entertaining, engaging games.
50 Cent Subtraction
Learn with Math Games, a website dedicated to helping children understand math concepts, recommends this game to help teach subtraction in a fun way. You will need pre-printed subtraction fact cards, or make some of your own to play this game. Give your child and yourself each 50 pennies, and stack the subtraction cards face down. The first player draws a card, figures the answer and places that many pennies into a bowl. The second player follows suit. Play continues until one player has put all of his pennies back into the bowl.
Simon Says Subtract
Michael S. Schiro, author of "Mega-Fun Math Games and Puzzles for the Elementary Grades," recommends Simon Says Subtract as a hands-on way to practice subtraction facts. Have your child stand up in an area with plenty of space to move around. Call out instructions such as, "Simon says jump the answer to six minus three." Your child must follow your directions to show that she knows the answer. If you do not say "Simon says" before the instruction, she must stand still. You can make the game more challenging by changing the movements to include clapping, stomping, turning in circles or stepping backward.
Subtraction Bingo
Subtraction Bingo reinforces subtraction facts in an entertaining way. Mary Rosenberg, author of "Math Games Grade 1," recommends bingo as a way for elementary students to practice the concept of subtraction. Create bingo boards by separating a piece of paper into 16 squares. Make two or three boards so you and your child can trade boards throughout the game. Write simple subtraction problems in each square. Rosenberg suggests using a variety of problems with many different answers between zero and 10. Allow your child to go first by rolling dice. Your child then tries to find a math problem on his bingo board that has the same answer as the number on the dice. He then covers that problem with a penny, bean or small piece of paper. Play continues until one player covers four math problems in a row.
References
- "Hands on Math: Learning Addition and Subtraction Through Manipulative Activities"; Kathleen Fletcher Bacer; 2004
- Learning with Math Games: Fun Math Games for Kids
- "Mega-Fun Math Games and Puzzles for the Elementary Grades: Over 125 Ready-to-Use Activities That Teach Math Facts, Concepts, and Thinking Skills"; Michael S. Schiro; 2009
- "Math Games Grade 1"; Mary Rosenberg; 2003
