1st Grade Magic of Math Unit 3: Subtraction

Build a strong foundation in subtraction within 20 with 1st Grade Magic of Math Unit 3! This four-week math unit takes students from an introduction to subtraction through a variety of subtraction strategies, word problems, and fact fluency practice.

Students develop an understanding of what subtraction means before learning strategies that help them solve efficiently. Through hands-on activities, visual models, math games, partner practice, and problem solving, students build both conceptual understanding and confidence with subtraction.

Week 1: Introduction to Subtraction

Students are introduced to subtraction and explore what it means to take from and take apart. They use pictures, objects, and models to represent subtraction situations.

Skills practiced include:

• Understanding subtraction as taking from
• Understanding subtraction as taking apart
• Using pictures and models to represent subtraction
• Comparing quantities using fewer and more
• Connecting subtraction situations to equations
• Solving basic subtraction problems

Week 2: Subtraction Strategies

Students begin using efficient strategies to solve subtraction problems and build fluency.

Skills practiced include:

• Subtracting all
• Subtracting zero
• Using a counting back strategy
• Using taking apart to subtract
• Choosing strategies to solve subtraction problems
• Building subtraction fact fluency

Week 3: More Subtraction Strategies

Students continue building their strategy toolbox as they explore connections between addition and subtraction and use number relationships to solve problems.

Skills practiced include:

• Using think addition to subtract
• Understanding the relationship between addition and subtraction
• Using 10 to subtract
• Breaking apart numbers to subtract
• Selecting an efficient subtraction strategy
• Solving subtraction problems within 20

Week 4: Word Problems & Fact Practice

Students apply their subtraction understanding to word problems while continuing to strengthen fact fluency.

Skills practiced include:

• Solving subtraction word problems
• Using the PSA problem-solving strategy
• Identifying important information in a word problem
• Determining the operation needed to solve
• Applying subtraction strategies to problem-solving situations
• Building subtraction fact fluency through games and practice

What’s Included

• 20 days of detailed lesson plans
• Teacher mini-lesson materials
• Hands-on math activities
• Interactive notebook activities
• Math games and partner practice
• Daily word problem practice
• Vocabulary cards
• I Can statements
• Student practice pages
• Assessments

This comprehensive unit gives students multiple opportunities to model, practice, explain, and apply subtraction strategies, helping them develop a deeper understanding of subtraction while building fluency with subtraction facts within 20.