Introduce early math skills with this fruit-themed subtraction worksheet, perfect for helping young learners understand how “taking away” works.
Children count the fruits, subtract the correct amount, and write the answer inside the box. The worksheet includes visual support to make subtraction clearer for beginners, especially the first example, which shows diagonal cross-out lines to demonstrate what happens when items are removed from a group.
What’s Inside the Subtraction Activity 1 Worksheet
This worksheet uses bright, simple fruit illustrations to make early subtraction fun and engaging:
- Five subtraction problems, each using a different fruit:
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- The first problem includes fruits crossed out with diagonal lines to show how subtraction works visually
- A write-the-answer box next to each equation
- A 1–10 number line at the bottom to support counting and self-correction
This structure helps children understand subtraction as removing a certain amount from a group, while also practicing counting and handwriting.
Why This Worksheet Helps Kids Learn
Subtraction can be challenging for early learners, but visual support makes the concept easier to understand. This worksheet strengthens:
- Number sense by connecting counting and taking away
- Visual learning through crossed-out fruit symbols
- Fine motor skills as children write numbers in the answer boxes
- Math vocabulary when discussing phrases like “take away” and “equals”
- Confidence through simple, success-friendly problems
Children begin to recognize patterns, such as groups getting smaller when items are removed.
How to Use This Printable
- Print the worksheet on A4 or US Letter paper.
- Start with the first example, count the total fruits, look at the crossed-out ones, and see how many are left.
- For the remaining problems, have children count the first group, then take away the second group.
- Write the answer neatly in the box provided.
- Use the 1–10 number line for checking or additional counting support.
- Encourage children to say each equation out loud, such as:
“Four strawberries take away two strawberries equals two strawberries.”
This makes the concept clearer and reinforces math language.
Perfect for Early Learners
This subtraction activity is ideal for:
- Preschool classrooms
- Kindergarten lessons
- Homeschool math practice
- One-on-one tutoring
- Early math centers
The fruit illustrations and visual cross-out method help children understand subtraction in a concrete, meaningful way.
Download the free PDF below and help kids build strong early subtraction skills in a fun and visual way!
