This practice activity correlates with First Grade Unit 2 of Math Expressions, an elementary mathematics program published by Heinemann.

Subtraction circles were a confusing concept for some of my students and the book didn’t seem to offer enough practice. This resource was created to supplement the learning concept of using circles to aid in the beginning subtraction process.

This activity is designed to gradually and progressively build on this skill by starting with numbers within the circle to help identify the minuend, or starting number.

The minuend numbers are then moved outside of the circle in a progression that ultimately results in circles only, without numbers.

The intermediary step on page 2 shows the numbers moving from outside the circle, initially, to inside the circle but only partially numbered (students must complete the count to find the minuend), to finally, no numbers at all.

BONUS: Quick Study Student Handout

Additionally in this resource, you will find a Quick Study handout that can be provided to students to help explain this process in a clear, step-by-step manner. I have also found this Quick Study aid to be beneficial for parents in helping them understand our classroom math strategies.

The Quick Study guide can be added to an Interactive Math Notebook or kept in a math folder.