Subtracting 2
key notes :
🔢 What is Subtracting 2?
Subtracting 2 means taking away 2 objects from a group.
👉 Example: 5 – 2 = 3 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 ➖ 🍎🍎 = 🍎🍎🍎
🧠 Use Counting Back Strategy
Start from the bigger number and count back 2 steps.
👉 Example:
Start at 7 ➡️ count back 2 ➡️ 6, 5
So, 7 – 2 = 5 🎉
🎲 Use Objects or Pictures
Students can use:
🍭 candies
🌟 stars
🧸 toys
🧮 counters
Take away 2 and count what is left.
✋ Use Fingers
Show a number on fingers and fold down 2 fingers.
👉 Example: Show 6 fingers, fold 2 → 4 fingers left ✋✋
🎨 Use a Number Line
Jump 2 steps backward on the number line.
👉 Example: Start at 9, jump back 2 → 7 ➖➡️➡️
🟢 Key Sentences to Practice
- “Take away 2.”
- “Count what’s left.”
- “How many remain?”
🧩 Examples
✨ 8 – 2 = 6
✨ 4 – 2 = 2
✨ 10 – 2 = 8
✨ 3 – 2 = 1
🎉 Real-Life Examples
🍬 You have 6 candies. You eat 2 → 4 left
🚌 7 kids on the bus. 2 get off → 5 left
🖍️ 5 crayons. You give 2 away → 3 left
❤️ Why It Is Important
Subtracting 2 helps students get faster at basic math and prepares them for bigger subtraction problems.
Learn with an example
✏️ Subtract. 9 – 2 =
- You can count back to find 9 – 2. Start at 9 and count back 2 times.
- You end at 7.
- 9 – 2 = 7
✏️ Subtract. 4 – 2 =
- You can count back to find 4 – 2. Start at 4 and count back 2 times.
- You end at 2.
- 4 – 2 = 2
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You can also use doubles to subtract. Remember the doubles fact 2 + 2 = 4. Then, think of the related subtraction fact.
4 – 2 = 2
✏️ Subtract. 12 – 2 =
- You can count back to find 12 – 2. Start at 12 and count back 2 times.
- You end at 10.
- 12 – 2 = 10
Let’s practice!
