Kindergarten Math: Missing Parts and Comparison
Kindergarten math: these problems ask for a part rather than the whole: 'there are 8 in all and 5 are on the table, so how many are hidden?' and 'Anna has 8, Ben has 5, how many more does Anna have?' Both are answered by subtracting, though nothing is taken away in either one. 140 printable worksheets, first three free.
Practice pages support a program; they are not the lesson. These sheets reinforce Building Number Sense Kindergarten, the sequenced K–5 math series from Faith Thinkers. See every program →
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Teaching Missing Parts and Comparison
What it is
These problems ask for a part rather than the whole: 'there are 8 in all and 5 are on the table, so how many are hidden?' and 'Anna has 8, Ben has 5, how many more does Anna have?' Both are answered by subtracting, though nothing is taken away in either one.
When a child is ready
Teach after take-away subtraction, once the child can see a number as two parts.
If they struggle
Hide part of a counted group under a cloth, have the child work out what is underneath, then lift the cloth and count — the checking is what teaches it. Say the number sentence in the same words the child sees: 8 in all, 5 showing, so 8 − 5, which is why subtraction answers a question where nothing was removed.
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