Welcome to S is for Subtraction in the A-Z STEM Series! I love preparing hands-on activities to help young children understand basic math concepts. Subtraction is especially well suited to activities with food. A Montessori-inspired snacktime subtraction activity is a fun way for preschoolers and kindergarteners to work on subtraction concepts independently.
For this activity, I used organic bunny-shaped snacks, although you could use Goldfish crackers or almost any type of snack along with subtraction problems written on cardstock. The subtraction problems wouldn’t have to be written on a shape related to the snack, although it adds interest if you can coordinate the two.
This snacktime subtraction activity has a series of subtraction problems for the child to solve by eating the snacks in the order numbered on the cardstock. The control of error is that there will be the correct number of bunnies to complete each problem and end with no bunnies.
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Supplies Needed for Bunny Snacktime Subtraction:
- Bunny Cookie Cutter or printable bunny template
- colored cardstock
- Annie’s Homegrown Organic Cheddar Snack Bunnies, Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Grahams, or Annie’s Homegrown Fruit Snacks
- candle coasters or snack plates
- tray (I used a Montessori Services medium-size tray.)
- marker
- laminator
Bunny Snacktime Subtraction Tray
Directions for Preparing a Montessori-Inspired Snacktime Subtraction Activity
- Trace or print out bunny shapes on cardstock.
- Cut out bunny shapes.
- Write numbered subtraction problems on bunnies. I used 10 cheddar bunnies and 4 subtraction problems. (As an example, I used 10-2, 8-3, 5-4, and 1-1.) Of course, you could use a larger number of cheddar bunnies and more subtraction problems or smaller number and fewer subtraction problems if you choose. The solution to the last subtraction problem should always equal 0.
- Laminate cardstock bunnies.
- Cut out laminated bunnies, leaving a laminate edge (small laminated border) on each bunny.
- Place laminated bunnies and snack bunnies on tray.
Bunny Subtraction Step 1 Layout
Snacktime Subtraction Presentation
- Carry tray to snack table.
- Find bunny problem #1. (Example: 10-2)
- Eat the number of cheddar bunnies in the subtrahend.
- Place remaining bunnies in rows of two on snack plate (as in Montessori cards and counters). This step is optional, although it reinforces the concept of odd and even. The orderly layout also makes it easier for the child to count the number of bunnies left on the plate.
- Find bunny problem #2. (Example 8-3)
- Eat the number of cheddar bunnies in the subtrahend.
- Place remaining bunnies in rows of two on snack plate.
- Continue solving problems (eating bunnies) until the plate is empty.
- Put away snack materials.
A-Z STEM Series
This post is part of an A-Z STEM series. Thanks to Sarah from Little Bins for Little Hands for organizing the series! Every day of the series is a new letter related to Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math. Check out more great STEM posts in this series by clicking on the image below.
Do you have a favorite hands-on subtraction activity for your child or students?
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