Subtraction Brain Break: Get Active with Math!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:46 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Learn subtraction facts within 20 while getting active! This lesson uses a fun video to help you practice and remember your subtraction skills with silly faces and movements.

Video Resource

Grade 1 Subtraction Brain Break: Math Game

Move and Groove Math

Duration: 2:46
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Subtraction within 20
  • Subtraction as taking away
  • Using mental math strategies for subtraction

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to subtract numbers within 20.
  • Students will be able to recall simple subtraction facts.
  • Students will connect subtraction practice with physical activity.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about subtraction. What does it mean to subtract? Give some simple examples (e.g., 'If I have 3 apples and I eat 1, how many are left?'). Explain that they'll be watching a video that will help them practice subtraction facts while doing fun movements.
  • Video Activity (10 mins)
    Play the 'Grade 1 Subtraction Brain Break: Math Game' video. Encourage students to participate actively by solving the subtraction problems and making the faces for the indicated number of seconds. Pause the video if needed to give students more time to solve the problems.
  • Review and Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, review the subtraction problems presented. Ask students to explain how they solved each problem. Introduce number lines or manipulatives (like counters or blocks) as visual aids to support their understanding. Work through a few additional subtraction problems as a class, encouraging different problem-solving strategies.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet or set of flashcards containing subtraction problems within 20. Have them solve the problems independently. As an extension, they can create their own 'brain break' activities by pairing subtraction problems with different actions (e.g., jumping jacks, hopping on one foot).

Interactive Exercises

  • Subtraction Charades
    Write subtraction problems on index cards. Have students take turns acting out the problems for the class to solve. For example, for 7 - 2 = 5, a student could start with 7 fingers up, then take away 2, leaving 5.
  • Number Line Subtraction
    Use a number line (either physical or drawn on the board) to visually represent subtraction. Start at the first number and 'jump back' the number being subtracted. This reinforces the concept of subtraction as taking away.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to subtract something?
  • What are some strategies you can use to solve subtraction problems?
  • How can we make learning math fun?

Skills Developed

  • Subtraction fluency
  • Problem-solving
  • Active listening
  • Number Sense

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does it mean to subtract?

Correct Answer: To take some away

Question 2:

What is 10 - 5?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 3:

What is 7 - 2?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 4:

What is 19 - 8?

Correct Answer: 11

Question 5:

What is 17 - 10?

Correct Answer: 7

Question 6:

Which number is SMALLER than 8?

Correct Answer: 7

Question 7:

If you have 6 cookies and eat 2, how many are left?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 8:

Which one is a good way to solve 12 - 2?

Correct Answer: Start at 12 and count back 2

Question 9:

What is 5 - 0?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 10:

Sara has 4 pencils and gives 1 to Tom. How many pencils does Sara have now?

Correct Answer: 3

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Subtraction means to ______ some away.

Correct Answer: take

Question 2:

10 - 0 = ______

Correct Answer: 10

Question 3:

If you have 8 crayons and lose 3, you have ______ crayons left.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 4:

9 - ______ = 4

Correct Answer: 5

Question 5:

12 - 2 = ______

Correct Answer: 10

Question 6:

The minus sign (-) means to ______.

Correct Answer: subtract

Question 7:

5 - 1 = ______

Correct Answer: 4

Question 8:

15 - 5 = ______

Correct Answer: 10

Question 9:

When you subtract you get a ______ number.

Correct Answer: smaller

Question 10:

11 - 1 = ______

Correct Answer: 10

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13). CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans