Subtraction within 20 activities for your 1st grade math centers! WOW, there are 20+ of them! The Subtraction within 20 | 1st Grade Math Centers pack gets every child excited to learn about subtraction with a wide variety of hands-on activities, from board games and clip cards to number lines, grid games and Bump! games.

Children model subtraction with counters, fingers, play dough balls and ten-frames, then write and solve the problems. A ten-frame is a simple grid of ten boxes that helps children see numbers and how they break apart. All activities are provided in both color and black and white, so you can enjoy this pack no matter what your printing abilities are.

With this subtraction within 20 pack, you get

• 20+ hands-on subtraction activities for 1st grade math centers
• Board games, matching games, Bump! games and grid games for partner practice
• Clip cards, link-ups and roll and cover sets
• Number line practice and an equals/does not equal activity
• Every activity in color and in black and white

Print your favorites and your subtraction centers are ready to go!

What's Included

• 20+ subtraction within 20 activities, each in color and in black and white:
  • Writing Subtraction Problems
  • Subtraction within 20 Clip Cards
  • 3 Subtraction Board Games
  • Subtraction Link-Ups
  • Subtraction Clip Cards
  • 3 Matching Games
  • 2 Bump! Games
  • 5 Subtraction Grid Games
  • Subtraction with Number Lines
  • 3 Roll and Cover Sets
  • Four-in-a-Row Game
  • Equals/Does Not Equal
  • Roll, Write and Squish

Why Teachers Love It

• A full unit of subtraction centers: With 20+ activities, you have fresh subtraction practice for whole-group, small-group and center time.
• Hands-on and visual: Ten-frames, counters, play dough balls and number lines help children see what is happening when they take away.
• Plenty of game play: Board games, matching games, Bump! games, grid games and a four-in-a-row game keep subtraction practice playful.
• Print-friendly: Every activity comes in color and in black and white.
• Easy to rotate: With so many formats, you can change your centers often and keep children excited about subtraction.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Subtraction within 20: Children solve subtraction problems with numbers up to 20.
• Modeling subtraction: Counters, fingers, ten-frames and crossed-out pictures help children show each problem.
• Writing equations: Children write subtraction problems to match what they see.
• Using a number line: Children count back on a number line to find the difference.
• Understanding the equal sign: The equals/does not equal activity asks children to decide if both sides of an equation have the same value.
• Fact fluency: Games and clip cards give lots of quick, repeated practice with subtraction facts.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Taking turns
• Following directions
• Using mathematical language
• Making and checking predictions
• Working independently
• Waiting during group play

How to Use It

Step 1: Choose the activities you want for the week and print them in color or in black and white.

Step 2: Model a few subtraction problems with the whole group or a small group using counters, ten-frames or a number line.

Step 3: Move the clip cards, board games, matching games, grid games and roll and cover sets into your math centers. Rotate in new activities to keep the practice fresh.

Easy Differentiation

First graders come to subtraction with different levels of confidence. These activities are easy to adjust so every child can grow.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Use counters or play dough balls to act out every problem
• Keep a ten-frame nearby as a visual model
• Start with smaller numbers before working up to 20
• Work through a few clip cards together before children try them on their own

For On-Level Practice

• Complete the subtraction clip cards in centers
• Play the board games and matching games with a partner
• Solve problems with the number lines
• Write the problems with the Writing Subtraction Problems activity

For an Extra Challenge

• Solve problems mentally and check with a number line
• Play the grid games and the four-in-a-row game against a partner
• Explain why an equation does or does not show equal values
• Write a subtraction story to match a problem

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice math words such as take away, minus, equals and difference
• Use a short sentence frame such as "___ take away ___ is ___."
• Use the clip cards and the Roll, Write and Squish play dough activity for fine motor practice
• Print in black and white for a less busy page
• Give extra processing time and model each activity first

Perfect For

• 1st grade math centers
• Small groups
• Partner games
• RTI and intervention
• Early finishers
• Math review
• Substitute plans
• Homeschool

Standards

These subtraction activities support 1st grade math standards in Common Core, the TEKS (Math, adopted 2012) and the Virginia Math SOL (2023):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS 1.OA.C.6: Add and subtract within 20, building fluency within 10.
• CCSS 1.OA.C.5: Relate counting to subtraction, such as counting back on a number line.
• CCSS 1.OA.D.7: Understand the meaning of the equal sign by deciding if equations are true or false.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS Math 1.3.D: Apply basic fact strategies to add and subtract within 20.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL Math 1.CE.1: Solve subtraction problems within 20 using strategies such as counting back.

Add the Subtraction within 20 | 1st Grade Math Centers pack to your cart and have 20+ hands-on subtraction activities ready for your math block. Print, play and watch your first graders build subtraction confidence one center at a time!

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

• On the 'thank you' page after checkout
• In your email
• Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account