When I think of games for subtraction, I think back to my first year teaching. I had no idea what to do to help my students practice math facts. I had zero fun subtraction games for 2nd graders. I only drilled them daily on anxiety inducing timed tests.

 

Games for Subtraction

 

It makes me think back to one day when the timer was counting down. There was about a minute left on the clock while my students frantically wrote answers down on a math fact timed test.

I started to weave in between the rows of desks as I noticed one student writing random numbers. I leaned near her and whispered to her. I told her to not just write random numbers and work through each problem.

I walked around the rows once more and I realized that this student now had her hands covering her face and that she was sobbing. I asked her to talk to me in the hallway. I asked her why she was upset. She told me it’s because she didn’t know any subtraction facts. I reassured her that is why we have strategies, to figure them out. I asked her what strategy she wanted to use. But she just shook her head because she didn’t know any.

I truly felt bad for this student. No wonder she was just writing answers. It was her coping mechanism to try to hide that she didn’t know the facts. I felt bad because she didn’t have the tools to find the answers and be successful. It was my fault she didn’t know how to do any strategies. I wanted her to find confidence in her skills. I wanted to help each and every one of my students find success. 

I decided to make this happen, I needed to change how I taught math facts and how my students practiced math fact fluency.

This student wasn’t going to get any better if she sat there writing random numbers on a timed test. I knew I needed to teach math fact strategies in my classroom. We worked on a couple different subtraction strategies the next few days. I set out different math fact games for my students to practice these strategies on their own.

This made all the difference!

A few days later when my class was taking that timed test, this student finished every problem with a minute to spare! And the best part… Every answer was correct! She beamed with happiness. She had the tools to find math fact success.

So what games for subtraction did I set out? Let’s get into them!

 

Fun Subtraction Games For 2nd Graders

 

Old Maid

This is a card game that students love where I have added subtraction facts within the cards. When students get a match, they have to say the answer to the subtraction equation on the cards.

Find this Subtraction Old Maid game here.

 

Go Fish

In this classic card game, I once again added subtraction facts for students to solve as they play. When students lay down a fact, they say the answer to the subtraction fact on the cards. I have a recording page I print off for students where they write the equations and answers. This helps keep students accountable.

Find this Subtraction Go Fish game here.

 

War

For this game, a small group of students play with cards that have subtraction equations on them. They pass out the cards face down to all the players until all the cards are gone. Each player stacks their cards in the pile facing down. Each player flips over their top card, on the count of three. Everyone says the answer to their subtraction fact. Then the player with the highest sum, takes all the cards and puts them on the bottom of their pile. Then they continue another round by each flipping over another card.

Find this Subtraction War Game here.

 

Don’t Eat Pete

This is a simple game that students love. I love it because there is very little prep. All I have to do is print out the playing board and it is ready for students.

The playing board has a grid that holds 12 subtraction equations. A small group of students play by setting a “marker” on each equation square. These “markers” could include candy, bingo markers, or dried beans. One player leaves so they can’t see or hear the group. The group chooses one square to be “Pete.” The one player comes back and starts to pick off the “markers” and say the subtraction fact answer to each square they pick up. When they get to the square the group chose as “Pete” the group says,”Don’t Eat Pete!” That player’s turn is now over.

I have fun monthly themed playing boards for this game. I use it all year round and students think it’s festive and fun!  I also have versions that are differentiated. There are some boards with easier subtraction facts and harder facts. This way,  I can get students the practice they need.

Find this Subtraction Don’t Eat Pete game here.

 

Memory Match

Memory Match is another simple game that students love. I have cards that have a subtraction equation and cards that have the matching answer. Students lay all the cards face down in an array. They then take turns flipping over two cards. If it’s a match they go again. If it’s not, they flip back over the cards and it’s the next player’s turn. The player at the end with the most matches wins.

I also have a version of this game where there is an equation and a matching subtraction ten frame. Students love it as well.

Find this Subtraction Memory Match game here.

 

I hope that your students love these games for subtraction as much as mine do. They are perfect for 1st grade and second grade students. Find all my math fact games in a money saving bundle here.

When students are taught math fact strategies and then get fun fluency practice, that is when the magic happens. Students learn the facts in a fun, yet meaningful way. Wondering what strategies I teach my students? Learn about each one here in this blog post: Math Fact Strategies That Work

For more tips to get your 1st and 2nd grade students to math fact fluency, check out my free worksheet for teachers: The 7 Steps to Ensure Fact Fluency

Download it here.