Subtraction Strip Board

The subtraction strip board provides systematic, visual practice of subtraction facts, building fluency through repeated meaningful experience.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Mathematics
• Learning area: Operations
• Level: Ages 5-6

Objectives

• Practice subtraction facts
• Develop subtraction fluency
• Record equations systematically
• Connect subtraction to addition

Materials

• Subtraction strip board (ruled 1-18)
• Blue strips
• Subtraction tables booklet
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Place blue strip from 0 showing minuend (e.g., 9). 2. Place second strip showing subtrahend (e.g., 4). 3. Read answer where second strip begins: 9-4=5. 4. Record equation. 5. Work through all subtractions from 9. 6. Move to next minuend. 7. Record in subtraction tables booklet. 8. Discover patterns.

Educator tip

Present after the addition strip board. Children may discover the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.

Assessment

Child completes subtraction tables and recalls facts with increasing fluency.

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• Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To
• Division with Golden Beads: Sharing Equally
• Measurement: Non-Standard Units
• Even and Odd Numbers
• Money: Coin Recognition and Value
• Pattern Block Designs and Symmetry
• Skip Counting Chains: 2s, 5s, 10s
• Word Problems: Addition and Subtraction Stories