1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets
Free printable PDF with answer keys • 18 worksheets available
Subtraction teaches students to find differences, compare quantities, and understand the inverse relationship with addition. Instruction begins with taking away objects within 5 and 10, develops through subtraction within 20 using strategies like counting back and using related addition facts, and p..
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All 1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets
Easy
Easy1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Dinosaur Theme (Easy)
20 problems
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Easy1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Christmas Theme (Easy)
20 problems
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Easy1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Ocean Theme (Easy)
20 problems
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Easy1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Space Theme (Easy)
20 problems
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Easy1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Halloween Theme (Easy)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Standard Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Dinosaur Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Christmas Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Ocean Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Space Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Hard1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Halloween Theme (Hard)
20 problems
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Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Standard Theme (Medium)
20 problems
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Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Dinosaur Theme (Medium)
20 problems
Included in Pack
Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Christmas Theme (Medium)
20 problems
Included in Pack
Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Ocean Theme (Medium)
20 problems
Included in Pack
Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Space Theme (Medium)
20 problems
Included in Pack
Medium1st Grade Subtraction Worksheets - Halloween Theme (Medium)
20 problems
Included in PackHow to Teach Subtraction in 1st Grade
Many students find subtraction harder than addition because it requires holding a quantity in mind and working backward. Start by emphasizing the connection between addition and subtraction — if a student knows 8 + 5 = 13, they can use that to solve 13 - 5. Teach all three subtraction situations explicitly: removal (5 birds, 2 fly away), comparison (I have 8, you have 3, how many more do I have?), and missing part (I need 10, I have 6, how many more do I need?). When teaching regrouping, use base-ten blocks physically. Have students trade a tens rod for 10 ones cubes and see the quantity remain the same. This concrete experience prevents the common error of subtracting the smaller digit from the larger digit regardless of position (e.g., getting 26 instead of 18 for 43 - 25). Practice subtraction fact families alongside addition to reinforce the inverse relationship. For word problems, teach students to identify the action in the problem before choosing an operation.
Teaching Tips from Educators
Teaching Subtraction Through Fact Families
Fact families are sets of related addition and subtraction equations that use the same three numbers: for example, 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 3 = 8, 8 - 3 = 5, 8 - 5 = 3. Teaching these as connected sets, rather than isolated facts, cuts the memorization load in half and builds deep understanding of the relationship between addition and subtraction. Use fact family triangles (also called number bonds): write 8 at the top and 3 and 5 at the bottom corners. Students generate all four equations from the triangle. Start with fact families students already know from addition — if they are fluent with 4 + 3 = 7, show them they already know 7 - 3 = 4 and 7 - 4 = 3. Physically model this with cubes: snap together 3 red cubes and 4 blue cubes to make 7, then break them apart to show subtraction. Daily fact family practice where students write all four equations from three given numbers is one of the most efficient uses of math time. By spring, aim for students to instantly recall any subtraction fact within 10 by thinking of the related addition fact.
The Counting Up Strategy for Subtraction
Counting up (also called "adding on" or "finding the difference") is the most efficient subtraction strategy for many problems, yet it is often undertaught. Instead of starting at the larger number and counting backward (which is cognitively difficult and error-prone), students start at the smaller number and count up to the larger one. For 12 - 9, a student starts at 9 and counts "10, 11, 12 — that is 3 hops, so the answer is 3." This strategy is especially powerful when the two numbers are close together. Teach it with a number line: mark both numbers and have the student hop forward from the smaller to the larger, counting the hops. Open number lines (a blank line where students mark only the relevant numbers) work better than pre-numbered number lines because they build mental math skills. Connect this strategy to real-world contexts: "You need 12 stickers and you already have 9. How many more do you need?" The phrasing "how many more" naturally evokes counting up. Practice with a mix of problems so students learn to choose the most efficient strategy — counting back for small subtrahends (13 - 2), counting up when numbers are close (11 - 8), and using known facts for the rest.
Standards Alignment
Represent and solve subtraction problems using objects, drawings, and equations; fluently subtract within 5 (K) and within 20 (1-2); subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value (1-2); fluently subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms (2-3); fluently subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm (4).