The harder half of the facts
First graders often pick up addition within 20 before subtraction, so December is a useful time to close the gap. This page has 24 subtraction problems using numbers up to 20. Answers are never negative, so children meet only the kind of problem they have been taught.
Three strategies worth naming
- Count back: for 13 – 2, start at 13 and say "twelve, eleven".
- Count up: for 15 – 12, start at 12 and count to 15. That's three.
- Think addition: for 14 – 6, ask "6 plus what makes 14?"
Ask children which one they used. Hearing a classmate's approach is often what helps a stuck child most.
An elf's December job
Tell the class that an elf has mixed up the toy count and needs help fixing it. Each correct row "delivers" a toy to the workshop board. Pair it with our Christmas addition page on alternate days to build a fact family routine.
Printing for a whole class
The page prints well in black and white. Print the answer key once for yourself, or leave it out by turning off "Include answer key".