Subtraction Math Center Activities and Digital Games for Kindergarten

I’m going to share hands-on subtraction math center activities and digital games for kindergarten. You can use these activities for small group lessons in the classroom or online. Don’t forget to grab the freebie at the bottom of this post.

Subtraction in Kindergarten

There are lots of ways to teach subtraction, but the best way is through varied, hands-on activities that allow them to see taking away. Subtraction in context is best!

In Kindergarten, we focus on two types of subtraction problems: taking from and taking apart. We teach these problems by acting them out with our bodies, then acting them out with manipulatives using math stories, drawing pictures, and writing equations.

We want students to see that the total is taken from a part known and they are solving for an unknown part.

Activities for Teaching Subtraction

Here are 28 hands-on subtraction math center activities. In these activities, students act out math stories and solve equations by drawing pictures, using number paths, number lines, and ten frames.

Act it Out: On the Playground

For this activity, you need your students. Project the background on your Smartboard and read the math stories and have students act them out.

Act it Out: On the Bus Stop

Students act out math stories using objects. Have students retell the math story and share the answer.

Task Card Subtraction

Pick a task card, solve the equation by drawing a picture and write an equation.

Bears Jumping on the Bed: Math Story

Students act out a story similar to 10 Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. They spin, move that many bears off the bed and write an equation.

Swim Away Fish

A shark is coming and the fish need to get away! Students spin, move that many fish out of the ocean and write an equation.

Sprinkle Subtraction

This yummy subtraction activity requires students to roll a die and remove that many “sprinkles” from the donut. They write an equation, too!

Match It Up! Puzzle

Students match the equation with the picture and write the answer.

Read, Draw, and Solve

Students pick a card, draw a picture to show how they solved the problem, and write an equation.

Subtraction Number Line

Students use a number line to solve equations.

Subtraction Ten Frame

Students solve equations using a ten frame.

Pick and Subtract

Pick a card and use the number line to help you solve the equation.

It’s a Sunny Day for Subtraction

This is a partner activity. Students must reach the finish line by solving subtraction problems correctly. The first player to the finish line wins!

Roll and Solve

Here’s another fun partner activity. Players roll the die and move that many spaces and solve the equation they land on. If they need it, they can use the ten frame to help them solve.

Roll, Count Back, and Cover

Let’s practice counting back. Students roll a die, solve the problem in that row, and cover the answer on the board.

Busy Bugs Subtraction

Yuck! Bugs! Students roll a die and take away that many “bugs.”

Busy Bees Subtraction

Bees are everywhere! This one-player activity is great practice for subtracting 10.

Spin and Take Away

Using a paper clip and pencil, students spin a spinner and subtract. They use a ten frame or five frame to solve.

Roll and Take Away

This math activity is so sweet! Students roll a die and cross out that many pieces of candy.

Flip and Subtract

Students flip two cards and subtract. They can use a number path to help them solve.

Flip and Subtract – Ten Frame

They flip two cards and use a ten frame to help them solve.

Starry Night

Students pick a card and model subtracting by acting it out on the math mat.

Finger Subtraction

These task cards are great for practicing subtracting using your fingers.

Pigeon Math

I have wrote about how much I loved Asia Citro’s Pigeon Math. It’s a great book to teach students addition and subtraction. This activity is based on this book. Students act out math stories using the bird mat. There is also a digital version of this game. Click here to get it!

Printable Worksheets

Do you need math journal work? Homework? morning work? early finisher work? These worksheets will be perfect! There’s a mix of using a ten frame, drawing a picture, and using a number line to solve. This packet also includes word problems!

Digital Subtraction Game

This digital game is made for Google Slides. Watch it below!

Get these activities

Click the image below to purchase Subtraction Math Center Activities:

Subtraction Math Center Freebie

You can never have too many math center activities. Here’s a freebie from my Subtraction Math Centers packet. You can grab this low-prep activity by completing the form below. 

What activities do you use to teach subtraction? Let me know in the comments section below.

Do you need more math centers and digital games freebies? Click here to download it!

Happy Teaching,

Tee