Solving Subtraction Problems with Objects

This is how I do subtraction with my students. I am going to show you the materials that I use to do subtraction. We have a pencil, this is the symbol for subtraction or minus. These are the tiles that I’m going to use for doing this activity. This is the sheet, a little sheet where they’re going to write the problem, and in this pouch, I already have pre-written problems. We use these tiles, but when you want to do this activity, there as, you can use things like marbles, or beans, or beads, or anything. Any other concrete objects. Friends, we are going to learn how to do subtraction with tiles. Okay. First, you take your sheet, then I’m going to get my problem out, from the pouch. And then, I’m going to write my problem. So, it’s four take-away one. And, you know that’s your symbol for subtraction and you write your answer on this side of the equal sign. Four take-away one. So, one, two, three, four. And you’re going to take one away. So now, what is left on this side? One, two, three. So, my answer is three, and you’re done. You could take this home. Put my tiles back, symbol back, and go to leave it here, and your problem goes right in the pouch. Now, you, friends get to do the subtraction problem on your own. Here, nine take-away four. You may take your paper and tiles, please. And then we take nine tiles. (Counting tiles together) Nine. Now, take away four. Okay, from eight we are going to take two away, you already have your number, get your sheet. Let’s get your sheet. Five. It equals five, now take a pencil and write the problem. So, nine take-away four equals five. Wow. Awesome.