Early math

Teaching Addition and Subtraction with Pictures

Move from visible groups to number sentences while keeping the meaning of each operation clear.

5 min readParents & educatorsKindergartenLab learning library

In this guide

Printable example related to this guide

Pictures make early operations concrete. Children can see two groups joining for addition or a group becoming smaller for subtraction before they are expected to work only with numerals and symbols.

Tell the action

Use a brief story: three apples are on the table and two more arrive. For subtraction, physically cover or cross out the amount taken away.

Count and Mark Objects: Tomato, Strawberry, Tangerine printable worksheet example — Worksheet exampleCount and Mark Objects: Tomato, Strawberry, Tangerine

Count each group, then the total

Have the child identify both quantities before solving. This slows down symbol guessing and reinforces the relationship between pictures and numbers.

Greater / Smaller Number printable worksheet example — Worksheet exampleGreater / Smaller Number

Move toward abstraction

After solving with pictures, rebuild the problem with counters and finally write the number sentence. The same relationship should be visible in every form.