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Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can subtract numbers below 10 using efficient strategies.

Key learning points

  1. When the subtrahend is bigger than the ones value of the minuend, we will have to bridge through 10
  2. Composition of numbers to 10 allows us to partition numbers when we are subtracting.
  3. Composition of numbers to 10 allows us to bridge through ten when subtracting.

Keywords

  • Minuend - The minuend is the number being subtracted from.

  • Subtrahend - A subtrahend is a number subtracted from another.

  • Difference - The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.

Common misconception

Difference can only be found by counting back.

Difference can be calculated by subtracting the subtrahend from the minuend or by counting between the subtrahend and the minuend.

Teacher tip

Pupils need to understand that subtraction is the inverse of addition. Addition facts can help with solving subtraction calculations. Tens frames, bar models and number lines can all be used to represent subtraction problems.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is one less than 7?

Correct Answer: 6, six

Q2.
What is the missing number in the equation?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 2, two

Q3.
Match the one less questions to the correct answer.

Correct Answer:What is one less than 6?,5

5

Correct Answer:What is one less than 8? ,7

7

Correct Answer:What is one less than 10? ,9

9

Correct Answer:What is one less than 9? ,8

8

Q4.
Which equation could Alex use to find the missing number in this bar model?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 8 − 3 =
8 + 3 =
3 − 8 =

Q5.
What is the answer to this equation?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 4, four

Q6.
Izzy has nine cherries. She eats three. How many cherries are left?

An image in a quiz
12
8
7
Correct answer: 6

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete: 5 + 4 = 9 so 9 − 5 =

Correct Answer: 4, four

Q2.
Alex has six cherries. He eats three of them. How many are left?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 3
4
5
6

Q3.
What is 9 in this equation? 9 − 2 = 7

Correct answer: the minuend
the subtrahend
the difference

Q4.
Which equation is represented by the number line?

An image in a quiz
9 − 3 = 6
9 + 3 = 6
9 + 6 = 3
Correct answer: 9 − 6 = 3

Q5.
What is the difference between 9 and 11?

Correct Answer: 2, two

Q6.
Match each equation to the answer.

Correct Answer:7 − 3 =,4

4

Correct Answer:10 − 5 =,5

5

Correct Answer:5 − 2 =,3

3

Correct Answer:9 − 7 =,2

2


To help you plan your 3 maths lesson on: Subtracting small numbers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...