Classroom · Math · Kindergarten

Subtraction within 5 worksheets

A free five-page pack: one strategy with a worked example, problems to count and write, practice with number lines, columns and missing numbers, a fact family, word problems and an answer key.

Download the subtraction within 5 pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

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Watch it solved

52 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice subtraction within 5, step by step.
0:04 Show the first number, take some away, and count what is left. For 5 minus 2, cross out 2 and count 3.
0:12 Count the pictures, and write the numbers. 4 minus 2 equals 2.
0:17 Solve each one. 2 minus 1 is 1.
0:21 Use the number line. Start at 3, and hop back 2. You land on 1.
0:26 Find the missing number. 5 minus what makes 4? 1.
0:31 Fact family. Use 3, 1 and 4 to write four facts. 3 plus 1 is 4.
0:37 Noor has 4 books. Noor gives 1 to Ben. How many books does Noor have left? 4 minus 1 is 3.
0:45 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How to do it

Show the first number, take some away, and count what is left. For 5 – 2, cross out 2 and count 3.

Teaching tip

Act it out: 5 ducks in a row, 2 swim away. How many ducks are still in the row?

Try some

2 – 1 = ?1
5 – 3 = ?2
4 – 1 = ?3
3 – 1 = ?2
5 – 2 = ?3
4 – 2 = ?2
4 – 3 = ?1
5 – 4 = ?1

Tap a problem to see the answer.

Word problems

Noor has 4 books. Noor gives 1 to Ben. How many books does Noor have left?Show answer

4 – 1 = 3

There are 3 frogs on a log. 2 hop away. How many frogs are left?Show answer

3 – 2 = 1

Hana has 2 balls. Hana gives 1 to Adam. How many balls does Hana have left?Show answer

2 – 1 = 1

There are 5 ducks in the pond. 1 swims away. How many ducks are left?Show answer

5 – 1 = 4

What the worksheets look like

Subtraction within 5 worksheet with a worked example and problems to count — Page 1: the strategy, then count and write

Subtraction within 5 word problems worksheet — Page 4: word problems

Common questions

How do you teach subtraction within 5?

Show the first number, take some away, and count what is left. For 5 – 2, cross out 2 and count 3. Act it out: 5 ducks in a row, 2 swim away. How many ducks are still in the row?

What grade is subtraction within 5?

Usually kindergarten. In the Common Core it is part of K.OA.A.1, K.OA.A.2, K.OA.A.5.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 5 has every answer from the pack and a short teaching tip. The worksheet maker also adds an answer key to every sheet it makes.