Let’s use play dough and sensory play to teach subtraction so children really understand the concept and enjoy learning.
How to teach subtraction with play dough
Children learn best through play and hands-on activities, where they are able to see, feel and explore. We can use this basis of relaxed, playful, and practical learning even when it comes to teaching math. It allows children to enjoy learning without feeling pressured, and lets them see and feel the math concept for real, so they really understand what they are being asked to learn.
This activity, taken from our Fun Math curriculum, uses the fun of sensory play with play dough to teach the principles of subtraction.
Magic Fun Math lessons!
Fun Math is an easy to teach, highly effective math curriculum based on play and hands-on learning.
All the lessons are designed to be fun and memorable, so children enjoy their lessons and feel confident.
The lessons are easy for teachers and parents to use, in class or at home.
These are the magic lessons where children really see, understand, and can apply math concepts. They are especially suited to children who don’t like math, lack confidence, don’t understand math the way they are currently being taught, or just want to play.
SEE MORE AND TRANSFORM YOUR MATH TEACHING HERE.
In this activity, your children can:
:: enjoy sensory play
:: build fine motor skills
:: count
:: subtract (and add)
:: work with a ten frame to develop their understanding of our base-ten system
Materials needed
:: ten frame printable (which you’ll receive in the Printables pack of our Fun Math curriculum)
:: play dough
:: number cards (also included in the Printables pack of our Fun Math curriculum)
How to use play dough to teach math
Print out the ten frame from the Printables section. You can print it on card or laminate it for extra durability if you wish. You can use several ten frames together for children who are working with larger numbers.
Set out the ten frame with play dough and a pile of number cards. (You’ll find a wide selection of number cards you can print in Fun Math Volume Two: Numbers, Counting and Arithmetic)
Ask your child to pick two of the number cards. We’ll use these two numbers to make our subtraction question.
Start with the higher number of your cards and ask your child to make that number of play dough balls: for example, 8 balls. They will be developing their fine motor skills including hand strength, finger dexterity and wrist mobility as they play.
Place one ball of play dough in each space on the ten frame: five along the top line and three on the bottom line to make eight. Using the ten frame and always filling it in top row first, and left to right, helps be consistent in developing your child’s understanding of our base-ten number system.
Then look at the number of the second card: for example, five. Can you squish away five balls of play dough? Have fun squashing away the dough, adding sound effects if you like! How many balls of play dough do you have left? Say aloud: 8 minus 3 equals 5.
Repeat the exercise to get lots of practice.
Developing subtraction skills
You can ask your child to predict how many balls of play dough they will have left after their squishing, to let them begin to do the subtraction mentally, and then count the remaining balls at the end to check their answer.
Transform your teaching with Fun Math
The Fun Math series gives you a math curriculum that is easy to teach and highly effective.
Children love these lessons because they are engaging and fun.
You’ll have a clear set of ready-made math lessons and activities that are simple to lead using our step-by-step lesson guides, and which children really understand.
Be the best math teacher and boost your children’s confidence and skills with Fun Math.
See more and transform your teaching here.
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