Solve Subtraction Word Problems

This activity is about changing a story into maths.

 

Look at the ladybirds on this plant.

 

 

Count them.

There are 12 ladybirds.

 

Now look at this picture.

 

 

4 ladybirds have flown away.

How many are left on the plant?

8 are left on the plant.

 

We started with 12 and 4 flew away.

 

In maths, this can be written as:

12 - 4

 

Now we can see that 12 - 4 = 8

 

So 8 are left on the plant.

 

12 - 4 = 8   tells the story of how many ladybirds are left on the plant.

 

Can you make a maths story out of something you see today?

Maybe a flock of sheep or a basket of vegetables? Anything that you can count in fact!

 

         

 

                                    

 

Good luck!