Kindergarten addition and subtraction worksheets
A mixed set of picture problems within 5 or 10. Addition shows two groups of shapes joined; subtraction shows one group with some shapes crossed out. Children write the answer in a box. Print with an answer key.
- Fresh problems every time
- Answer key on its own page
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On this page
Adding and taking away on one page
By the end of kindergarten, children are expected to show addition and subtraction with objects or drawings and to work with numbers within 10. This generator makes a page that mixes the two operations, so the child has to look at the sign before deciding what to do. That small habit prevents a lot of later errors.
The two kinds of problems look different on purpose. For addition, two groups of shapes sit on either side of a plus sign. For subtraction, one group is drawn, and the last few shapes are crossed out with an X. The instruction line on the sheet explains the idea in child-friendly words: count all the pictures, take away the crossed-out ones, and write how many are left.
Choosing the settings
- Operation. The preset uses "Both". Switch to "Addition" or "Subtraction" if you want to isolate one idea. If a child has just met take-away, an all-subtraction sheet gives them repeated practice with the crossed-out picture.
- Numbers up to. Use 5 for children still building confidence, 10 for those ready to finish the year.
- Show pictures. Keep this on while children still need to count. Switch it off to print only the number sentences, which is a useful step toward fluency without a picture.
- Number of problems. Pick 4 to 20. Eight to ten is plenty for one sitting.
- Include the answer key for a quick check, and choose US Letter or A4 for your printer.
Subtraction problems always start with a group of at least two shapes and take away at least one, so the answer is never negative. An answer of zero cannot appear.
Worked example: 7 − 3
Say a subtraction problem shows seven circles with three of them crossed out. The sentence reads 7 − 3 = and a box.
- Count every circle, crossed or not: seven. That is the whole group.
- Look at the circles with an X. Count them: three. Those are the ones taken away.
- Count only the circles that are not crossed out: one, two, three, four.
- Write 4 in the box: 7 − 3 = 4.
- Check by joining: four circles plus three crossed ones should make seven again.
That last step connects the two operations and shows children that subtraction undoes addition.
Watching for confusion
- Answering with the starting number. A child who writes 7 has counted everything and stopped. Remind them the crossed-out circles are gone.
- Counting the X shapes as the answer. They wrote 3 because the crossed-out shapes stood out. Ask, "Which ones are still here?"
- Adding when the sign says subtract. On a mixed page, circle the sign before each problem as a routine.
- Counting errors. These are the usual off-by-one slips. Let the child touch each picture.
Look at the answer key together and ask the child to explain one answer in their own words. When picture work is steady, a symbols-only page like this sums-to-ten fact sheet or one-digit subtraction builds speed.