Parent guide · Kindergarten Math · Unit 5

Lesson 5.3 Subtraction Stories

Written for the parent. Read the Say this lines aloud as they are, or in your own words. Answers for you are marked Listen for.

At a glance

Time: 5 sessions of 15–20 minutes
Goal: Act out and solve take-away stories.
You need: Counters (dried beans, buttons or pebbles)
A few cups
Pencil and crayons
Print: Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page

Steps

Warm-up
Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.
- Ask: “2 − 1” Listen for: 1
- Ask: “5 − 3” Listen for: 2
- Ask: “3 − 1” Listen for: 2
- Ask: “2 − 0” Listen for: 2
- Ask: “4 − 4” Listen for: 0
Teach the new idea
Say this: “Words like ‘left,’ ‘flew away’ and ‘ate’ often mean subtract.”
Say this: “Act the story out, then write the number sentence.”
Say this: “How many are left: a question that usually means subtract.”
Show how
Show: The orchard had 9 apples on a tree. The children picked 4. How many apples are left on the tree?
$bar model$
Say this: “Unknown: how many are left.”
Say this: “Bar model: the whole is 9; one part is 4; the other part is unknown.”
Say this: “Equation: 9 − 4 = ?”
Say this: “9 − 4 = 5”
Say this: “Answer: 5 apples are left.”
Answer: 5 apples. 5 apples are left.
Show: 6 − 2 = ___
Say this: “Start at 6 and count back 2: 5, 4.”
Say this: “6 − 2 = 4”
Answer: 4
Practice together
Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: Gideon had 5 men. He sent 1 home. How many men stayed?
$bar model$
Listen for: 4 men. 4 men stayed.
If stuck: Unknown: how many are left.
Ask: Gideon had 7 men. He sent 5 home. How many men stayed?
$bar model$
Listen for: 2 men. 2 men stayed.
If stuck: Unknown: how many are left.
Ask: A shepherd had 8 sheep. 5 wandered off. How many sheep are still with him?
$bar model$
Listen for: 3 sheep. 3 sheep are still with him.
If stuck: Unknown: how many are left.
7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
Watch for
- Adding when the story takes away. Act it out.
Game: Hide and Take
Put up to 10 counters under a cup. Take some out and show them. Your child says how many are still hiding, then checks.
Narration
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”
Listen for: Act out and solve take-away stories.
Daily habit
Count back from 10 to 0 every day, then from 20 to 10.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 15–20 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.