Adding and Subtracting Within 10: Kindergarten Study Guide
Addition puts groups together. Subtraction takes some away. Pictures and objects help children see both.
Kindergarten children first meet addition and subtraction in stories: Three ducks are in the pond. Two more swim over. How many ducks now? They act it out with objects or fingers, draw a picture, and then learn to write the number sentence 3 + 2 = 5.
The plus sign (+) means put together or add to. The minus sign (−) means take away. The equals sign (=) means 'is the same as'. The goal is to add and subtract fluently within 5 and to solve problems within 10.
Putting together and taking apart
| Story | Number sentence | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 4 birds and 3 birds join | 4 + 3 = 7 | 7 |
| 8 grapes, you eat 3 | 8 − 3 = 5 | 5 |
| Break 6 into two parts | 6 = 2 + 4 | 2 and 4 |
Number bonds
Number bonds show which two numbers make another. The bonds of 10 are 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and 5 and 5. Knowing bonds of 5 and 10 helps with later facts. A child with 10 fingers can see that 6 fingers up means 4 are down.
Hold up five on one hand and two on the other.
5 and 2 make 7.
Now 4 and 3 make 7.
Adding and subtracting strategies
Count on: for 5 + 2, start at 5 and count 6, 7. Use doubles: 3 + 3 = 6. Draw a picture or use a number line to hop forwards for adding and backwards for subtracting. Move from objects to pictures to numbers slowly.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: You have 5 stickers and give away 2. 5 − 2 = 3. Example: 2 + 6. Start with the bigger number: 6, then count on 7, 8. Common mistakes: counting the start number again (saying 'six, seven, eight' as one-two-three on 6 + 2) and confusing + with −. Always read the sign out loud.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. 4 + 2 = 6 cats. 2. 3, because 7 + 3 = 10. 3. Draw 6 objects and cross out 4; 2 are left, so 6 − 4 = 2.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Adding puts together; subtracting takes away.
- Number bonds show which two numbers make a total.
- Start with the larger number when counting on.
- Use objects, drawings and number lines before only numbers.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Write a number sentence for: 4 cats and 2 more cats arrive.
- What goes with 7 to make 10?
- Draw a picture to show 6 − 4.