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Grade 1 subtraction practice

Subtraction Within 20 Worksheets

Print eight subtraction-within-20 questions without negative answers, including equations and a short story problem.

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Subtraction Within 20 printable
Grade 1 - Math - Math Printables - Standard
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Complete each activity about Subtraction Within 20. Show your thinking where space is provided.
1. 18 - 7 = ____
2. 15 - 6 = ____
3. 20 - 8 = ____
4. 14 - 5 = ____
5. 17 - 9 = ____
6. There are 16 shells. Sam gives 4 away. How many shells remain?
7. Circle the equation that equals 10: 18 - 8, 15 - 8, or 12 - 5.
8. Write a subtraction equation that has an answer of 6.
Answer key
  1. 11
  2. 9
  3. 12
  4. 9
  5. 8
  6. 12 shells
  7. 18 - 8
  8. Example: 14 - 8 = 6. Score correct when the subtraction equation equals 6.

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Represent what is removed or compared

Choose whether students will take objects away, find a missing part, or compare two amounts. Counters and crossed-out pictures make removal visible, while a number line can show movement backward. Keep the starting amount at 20 or less and make sure the remaining quantity never becomes negative.

Read the subtraction story before calculating

Ask students to identify the starting amount, the amount removed, and what the question asks them to find. Comparison stories need extra care because no objects may physically disappear. Check that the wording and equation describe the same situation before using the printable independently.

Diagnose the strategy with the teacher key

A child who adds instead of subtracting may be reacting to a keyword rather than the situation. Compare the student model, equation, and difference with the key, then ask how the remaining part relates to the whole. Regenerate a shorter set when students need focused practice with one subtraction meaning.

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FAQ

Common questions

Can these questions have negative answers?

No. The starting amount stays at least as large as the amount removed for this first-grade practice.

Which subtraction meanings can I practice?

Use take-away, missing-part, or comparison situations, but keep one meaning consistent when the skill is new.

Can students use a number line?

Yes. Students can show backward jumps or use counters and drawings alongside the printed equations.

What should I check in a subtraction story?

Confirm that the starting amount, change, and unknown are clear and that the matching equation uses subtraction.

What if a student keeps adding?

Return to a concrete model and ask what changed in the story before comparing the work with the teacher key.