Mastering subtracting 1-digit strategies: 2nd Grade worksheets and activities

Now that your 2^nd graders already know some strategies to subtract 1-digit numbers, it's time for them to practice these subtracting 1-digit numbers with fun and engaging activities.

Here are some ideas that you can try:

• Play a card game. Kids can use a deck of cards to play a subtraction game with friends or family members.

  Remove the face cards (J, Q, K) and the ace (A) from the deck. Shuffle the cards and deal them evenly between the two players.

  Each player turns over two cards and subtracts the smaller number from the larger number. The player with the higher answer keeps all four cards.

  If both players have the same answer, they have a war: they each turn over two more cards and subtract them. The player with the higher answer keeps all eight cards.

  The game ends when one player has no more cards or whth players run out of cards. The player with more cards at the end wins.

• Make a subtraction bingo. Your kids can make their own subtraction bingo cards by writing different subtraction problems on a grid of squares. For example, they can write:

  |7 - 5|9 - 3|6 - 2|

  |8 - 4|5 - 1|10 - 6|

  |9 - 6|7 - 2|8 - 5|

  They can also use online tools to generate random subtraction bingo cards. Then, use another grid of squares to write the answers to the subtraction problems. For example, write:

  |2|6|4|

  |5|3|9|

  |8|1|7|

  Now, cut out the squares with the answers and put them in a bowl or a hat. Then, play bingo with a friend or a family member.

  Each player gets a bingo card with subtraction problems. One player draws an answer from the bowl or hat and calls it out loud.

  The other player looks for a subtraction problem on their bingo card that matches the answer and covers it with a marker (such as a coin or a button).

  The first player to cover five squares in a row, column, or diagonal wins.

Another way to reinforce subtracting 1-digit numbers to your 2^nd graders is by using our subtracting 1-digit worksheets. These worksheets can help you review what you have taught your kids and check their understanding.

You can find many subtraction worksheets online or encourage your kids to make their own. Here are some examples of subtraction worksheets that you can use:

• Horizontal subtraction. In this worksheet, kids must subtract two 1-digit numbers written horizontally. For example:

7 - 4 = __

6 - 2 = __

9 - 3 = __

• Vertical subtraction. In this worksheet, kids must subtract two 1-digit numbers written vertically. Align the digits so they can write the answer below the line.

For example:

   8––

– 5––

• Missing number subtraction. Kids must find the missing number in a subtraction equation in this worksheet. The missing number can be the minuend (the larger number), the subtrahend (the smaller number), or the difference (the answer). For example:

__ - 4 = 3

6 - __ = 2

9 - 6 = __

Subtracting 1-digit numbers may seem easy, but sometimes you must correct things. Here are some common mistakes and how to help kids avoid and fix them when subtracting 1-digit numbers:

• Subtracting the larger number from the smaller number. Sometimes, your second grader may need to remember which number is larger or smaller when subtracting.

  This can lead to negative answers, which are not correct for 2nd-grade math.

  Hence to help them avoid this mistake, remind them always to check which number is larger and which number is smaller before subtracting.

  You can advise them to use a number line or your fingers to compare the numbers. For example, if you want to subtract 5 - 7, you should notice that 7 is larger than 5, so you cannot subtract it from 5. You should switch the order of the numbers and subtract 7 - 5 or use regrouping (see below) to subtract 5 - 7.

• Forgetting to borrow or regroup when subtracting with regrouping. Sometimes, kids may encounter exercises requiring subtracting two numbers that require regrouping.

  Regrouping means you have to borrow a ten from the next-place value and add it to the ones-place value. For example;

  If you want to subtract 12 - 8, you cannot subtract 8 from 2 in the ones place because 8 is larger than 2. You have to borrow a ten from the tens place and add it to the ones place, making it 12 - (10 + 2). Then, you can subtract as usual: (10 + 2) - 8 = (10 - 8) + (2 - 0) = 2 + 2 = 4.

  To help kids remember to borrow or regroup, encourage them to alwayalways to checksubtrahend is larger than the minuend in the onesce.

  If it is, then borrow or regroup before subtracting.

Are you ready to take your kid's subtracting skills to the next level? If they have mastered subtracting 1-digit numbers without regrouping, you can help them try subtracting 1-digit numbers with regrouping.

Regrouping means borrowing a ten from the next place value when the ones digit in the minuend is smaller than the ones digit in the subtrahend.

For example, in 15 - 7, you need to regroup because 5 is smaller than 7. You can borrow a ten from the tens place and add it to the ones place, making it 15 - 7 = (10 + 5) - 7 = (10 + (5 + 10)) - 7 = (10 + 15) - 7 = 25 - 7 = 18.

Regrouping can be tricky at first, but with some practice, your Grade 2 kids can master it. Here are some tips to help you:

• Always start from the rightmost place value and move to the left.
• If the ones digit in the minuend is smaller than the ones digit in the subtrahend, regroup by borrowing a ten from the next place value.
• If the tens digit in the minuend is smaller than the tens digit in the subtrahend after regrouping, regroup again by borrowing a hundred from the next place value.
• Write down each step of your calculation and check your work carefully.

We have prepared some fun and engaging activities to help kids practice subtracting 1-digit numbers with regrouping. You can find them in the link below. You can also download some worksheets to reinforce your teaching skills and check your kid’s answers with the answer key.