Do the math shake! #2 Subtraction
After we have finished with addition last week, and I hope you have practiced it throughout this week, we are moving on to SUBTRACTION.
What is subtraction?
Subtraction is where elements is taken away from the greater one. Most teachers introduce their children to the other name: "The take-away method"
The reason why teachers introduce subtraction as "the take-away" method is because it does exactly what the name says:
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How do I subtract?
You see little one, the biggest and most important rule to remember about subtraction is to
Always take away the smaller number from the bigger number. ALWAYS!
Let's test this thing called subtraction a.k.a. take away:
Go find 10 cookies. Any cookie you like.
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You have 10 cookies. Your brother eats 4 cookies.
Take the 4 cookies from the pile of 10 cookies and put them separate.

Image SourceHow many cookies do you have left in the pile after your brother ate the other 4?
Count the cookies left over.
Video about subtraction?
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Let's practice subtraction a little bit: Pizza Math
- Have a pizza, fake or real. Although a real pizza makes this a fun exercise and the kids experience subtraction/take-away in the best possible way. The best is to buy small pizzas. One per child.
- Cut the pizza in 8 pieces.
- Let the learner count the pizza pieces.
- The learner eats 1 piece. (Let them really eat 1 pizza piece.)
- How many pieces is left? 7
- Now eat 3 pieces.
- How many is left now? 4
- This method shows them how take-away means. And at the end it will also help them to see how the sum would look like.
- 8-1-3=4



Great way to learn subtraction