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Subtraction Using Ten Frame

  • Writer: Our Special Story
    Our Special Story
  • Mar 28
  • 4 min read

What is it

A set of worksheets made to teach children how to count up to 10 using a visual tool, that is ten frame. Ten Frame allows children to visualize numbers and help them with simple subtraction.

There is also a set of worksheets for children who want to challenge themselves with subtraction (more than 10) using the ten frame. With the given prompts and ample practices at the start, children will be able to subtract using ten frames independently at the end of the worksheet. 



Teaching Objectives

  • Practice counting skills and taking things away up to 10

  • Recognising numbers on the ten frames 

  • Subtracting numbers using the ten frames 

  • Learning how to take away items using the ten frames correctly


How to use

1) Count and Write 


  • Read the scenarios and equations given with your child, and guide them to count the number of uncrossed items that are filled on the ten frame. Then, write the answers in the boxes provided. 

    • Offer verbal prompts by counting aloud together. 

    • If your child requires help in recognizing and writing numbers, offer visual prompts by writing the answers in dotted format, and get your child to trace the number instead. (e.g., answer is “5”, get your child to trace “5” instead)

  • At the same time, emphasize to your child that subtraction means taking things away, and to do subtraction, one needs to take away items by crossing them out from the current frame and then count how many are left uncrossed.


2) Subtraction with Ten Frame



  • Read the equation aloud with your child

  • Fill in the boxes with green circles, from left to right, for the first number. 

  • Then, cross out the circles according to the second number from the back.

  • Count the number of uncrossed circles and write down the answer. 

    • This worksheet offers step-by-step guidance and each step is broken into smaller steps to help your child learn and acquire the skills.

    • Prompts, like tracing, colour coding, underlines and circles, are faded systematically. Whenever a prompt is faded, guide notes in the form of yellow speech bubbles are provided. This is to assist both parents and child in the subsequent step. 


3) Ten Frame Templates 




  • Cut and laminate the ten frame templates for future uses and expose your child to more equations. You can fill in the spaces of the ten frame using either objects like buttons or magnets, or drawing circles using whiteboard markers.

    • Offer visual prompts by colour coding the first and second numbers of the equation. (E.g., equation is “9 - 3 = __”, write the number 9 using a green marker and write the number 3 using a red marker). Afterwards, get your child to fill in the ten frame using the green marker to draw the circles and the red marker to cross them out.


Teaching tips

  • Before doing subtraction using the ten frame template, allow your child to familiarize with the ten frame first. Say out any number from 1 to 10, and get the child to fill in the square spaces of the ten frame with counters. Teach your child to fill in the ten frame from the leftmost space to right, and only when the top row is filled, do they fill in the second row. Again, from leftmost space to right for the bottom row as well. 

    • E.g., “7” can be represented as 5 filled counters in the top row, and 2 filled counters in the bottom row. 

  • When crossing out the circles to take them away, start from the back (the tenth frame on the rightmost space on the bottom to left) and get them to count as they cross out the circles. This way, the amount of circles left can be easily counted starting from the top leftmost space to right.

    • E.g., equation is “9 - 3  = 6”, With the 9 circles drawn on the ten frame, start crossing out the circles from the last drawn circle, and count 1. Then continuing on to cross out the next circle on the left, and count 2. Subsequently, cross out the next circle on the left, and count 3. To determine the answer, start counting the uncrossed circles from the top leftmost space.



Here are some videos that can help with teaching the concept:



Embed more learning opportunities

  • Receptive language – “Cross out 3 green circles”, “Draw 5 green circles”, “Trace the number 9”, “Write down the answer” 

  • Expressive language – “Let’s count what’s left”, “How many circles are left?”



-Specially created by Our Special Story-


Our Special Story provides Home Based 1-on-1 ABA Therapy, Early Intervention Class, School Readiness Class, Social Skills Class and School Shadowing for children with autism spectrum disorder, speech delay and other special needs. 


ABA Therapy can help to improve behaviours, attention, speech and communication,cognitive skills, motor skills, school readiness, social skills, self help skills and more!





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