Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Operations & Algebraic Thinking · Grade 1

Subtraction: Taking Away

Students learn that subtracting means taking some away and counting what is left — the partner skill to addition — with a clear picture of every take-away.

Grade 1Subtraction35 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Understand subtracting means taking away.
  • ✓Subtract within 10.
  • ✓Write a subtraction number sentence.
  • ✓Count what is left.
Essential Question

If you have 7 balloons and 3 pop, how many are left? What does it mean to “subtract”?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

The Take-Away Machine

Project this and start with some objects, then take some away. Count what is left to find the answer.

➖ Take some away — how many are left?Try it
Start with: 7
Take away: 3

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — Pop!

5 min

7 balloons, 3 pop — how many are left?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a group; take some away.
  • Ask how many are left.
  • Set the goal: subtracting.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch some leave.
  • Guess what’s left.
  • Predict subtracting.
2

I Do — Take Away & Count

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Take some objects away.
  • Count what is left.
  • Write 7 − 3 = 4.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch the take-away.
  • Count what’s left.
  • See the sentence.
3

We Do — Subtract Together

10 min

Class drives the machine.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Set start and take-away.
  • Count what is left.
  • Write each sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Take some away.
  • Count what’s left.
  • Write it.
4

You Do — On Your Own

10 min

Students subtract.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Assign subtraction within 10.
  • Use counters to take away.
  • Write number sentences.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Subtract.
  • Use counters.
  • Write sentences.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One more.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a subtraction to solve.
  • Explain “left.”
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Solve it.
  • Explain taking away.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

CCSS
1.OA.6

Add and subtract within 20; fluently add and subtract within 10.

CCSS
1.OA.1

Use subtraction within 20 to solve word problems.

CCSS
1.OA.4

Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem.

CCSS
1.OA.8

Determine the unknown number in an addition or subtraction equation.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Take away real objects.
  • Sentence frame: “___ take away ___ leaves ___.”
  • Say “minus” and “left.”

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Subtract within 5 first.
  • Use counters to remove.
  • Count the leftover ones.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Relate 7 − 3 to 3 + 4 = 7.
  • Find the missing number (7 − ? = 4).
  • Subtract within 20.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Math notebooks
  • 💻The Take-Away Machine
  • 🟦Counters
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

subtractto take awayminusthe − sign, meaning take awaydifferencethe answer when you subtractlefthow many remaintake awayto remove somefewera smaller amountremainto be left overequalsis the same as (=)
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does it mean to subtract?
To take some away and count what is left.
QUESTION 2
Solve: 8 − 5.
3.
QUESTION 3
You had 6 and took away 2. How many are left?
4.

Going deeper? Add and subtract families.

Have students see how 3 + 4 = 7 and 7 − 4 = 3 belong to the same “fact family.” A printable fact-family sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Subtraction (Taking Away)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Subtraction (Taking Away)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Subtraction (Taking Away)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: difference, equals, fewer, left, minus, remain, subtract, take away
  1. the answer when you subtract
  2. to take away
  3. to be left over
  4. how many remain
  5. the − sign, meaning take away
  6. is the same as (=)
  7. to remove some
  8. a smaller amount

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does it mean to subtract?
  2. Solve: 8 − 5.
  3. You had 6 and took away 2. How many are left?
Answer key — Part A: 1) difference · 2) subtract · 3) remain · 4) left · 5) minus · 6) equals · 7) take away · 8) fewer
Part B: 1) To take some away and count what is left. 2) 3. 3) 4.