🧮 Part 1: Solve with Manipulatives

Instructions: Read each word problem carefully. Use counters, blocks, or draw pictures to help you solve. Write the number sentence and answer.

1. Sarah had 45 stickers in her collection. She gave 18 stickers to her friend Emma. How many stickers does Sarah have left?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: Sarah has _____ stickers left.

2. There were 63 books on the library shelf. The librarian took away 27 books to put in storage. How many books are still on the shelf?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: There are _____ books still on the shelf.

3. A farmer had 84 sheep in his paddock. 29 sheep were moved to another field. How many sheep remained in the original paddock?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: _____ sheep remained in the original paddock.

🛒 Part 2: Shopping Problems

4. Mum went shopping with $75. She spent $38 on groceries. How much money does she have left?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: Mum has $_____ left.

5. A toy shop had 92 toy cars. During the weekend, they sold 47 toy cars. How many toy cars are left in the shop?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: There are _____ toy cars left in the shop.

🎯 Part 3: Choose Your Strategy

Instructions: For each problem, tick the strategy you used to solve it.

6. There were 56 children at the school assembly. 19 children left early for a dental check. How many children stayed for the whole assembly?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: _____ children stayed for the whole assembly.

Which strategy did you use?

Counting back

Using a number line

Taking away 10 first, then the rest

Using counters or blocks

🏃‍♂️ Part 4: Sports Day Problems

7. At sports day, 78 students signed up for races. Unfortunately, 24 students were absent on the day. How many students actually participated in the races?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: _____ students participated in the races.

8. The school ordered 95 meat pies for lunch. The students ate 67 pies. How many pies were left over?

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

Answer: _____ pies were left over.

🌟 Part 5: Challenge Problems

9. Create your own subtraction word problem using the numbers 82 and 35. Write the problem and solve it.

Number sentence: _____ - _____ = _____

10. Explain how using counters or blocks helped you solve one of the problems above. Use subtraction words like "take away," "difference," or "how many left."