This 1st grade math unit is jam-packed with first grade math subtraction as unknown addends worksheets, games, and activities for grade 1 students! You can use this as a supplement to your curriculum or use it solely as your 1st grade skill practice for missing addends to 20.
$7.00
Help your students master the relationship between addition and subtraction with this 1st Grade Subtraction as Unknown Addends Math Unit! Packed with subtraction as unknown addends worksheets, games, and hands-on centers, this unit helps first graders understand that subtraction can be seen as a missing addend problem.
Students will use equations, manipulatives, and drawings to figure out the missing part of a whole. By connecting addition and subtraction, they’ll develop a deeper understanding of number relationships and fact families—skills essential for fluency and flexible thinking.
This resource makes abstract subtraction concepts concrete and fun through interactive worksheets, themed games, and real-world examples that keep students motivated.
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This comprehensive subtraction as unknown addends resource includes everything teachers need for whole-group lessons, centers, and independent practice:
10 Unknown Addends Worksheets: Students practice using subtraction to find missing addends within 20 through visual models, matching, coloring, and word problems.
Cut and Glue Dog Bone Activity: Students match bones with addition equations to the correct dogs with subtraction problems, reinforcing how addition and subtraction are related.
Bubble Sort: Students sort bubbles based on correct answers, placing them with the “bubble-blowing kids” that show each sum or difference.
Emoji Math Sort: Students check equations and place a smile or frown emoji to show whether each is solved correctly—great for small-group checks or quick reviews.
Game #1: Line Them Up! A fast-paced competition where students race to arrange subtraction and addition cards in the correct order from START to FINISH.
Game #2: Build a Pizza! Students earn pizza toppings by solving missing addend equations. Chance cards keep the game unpredictable and fun!
Game #3: Whole-Class “Bucket Filler!” Students move around the room solving task cards and placing correct answers into a bucket for a prize draw.
Game #4: Amusement Park Blueprints: Students solve each equation to discover where amusement park rides belong on the map—a favorite for problem-solving and collaboration.
Each activity includes recording sheets, answer keys, and both color and black-and-white versions for easy prep and flexible classroom use.
Teachers love how adaptable this subtraction as unknown addends worksheets unit is! It can be used in countless ways, including:
Math centers or partner games for hands-on practice
Whole-class lessons introducing inverse operations
Small-group targeted instruction for struggling students
Morning work, homework, or spiral review
Assessment preparation for understanding fact families and missing numbers
These activities make it easy to reinforce key skills and help students build fluency using both addition and subtraction strategies.
This 1st grade math unit aligns with Common Core 1.OA.4, focusing on helping students:
Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem
Use addition to check subtraction work
Recognize that subtraction and addition are inverse operations
Apply this understanding to fact families and missing number equations
By mastering these skills, students gain flexibility in solving equations and develop strong number sense.
Teachers appreciate that this subtraction as unknown addends math unit blends conceptual understanding with engaging practice. The games, puzzles, and visuals make it easy for students to grasp abstract relationships between operations.
Students love the themed games like Build a Pizza and Amusement Park Blueprints that make every lesson feel like a challenge, not a chore. Teachers love the print-and-go format, clear layout, and consistent design across all 1st Grade Math Units—making classroom organization effortless.
The mix of visual practice, problem-solving, and interactive play keeps students actively engaged while reinforcing key concepts.
This 1st Grade Math Unit is part of a full, year-long series designed to make math lessons easy to plan and fun to teach. Each unit includes printable worksheets, center games, and hands-on activities that encourage students to explore math concepts in meaningful ways.
• See All 1st Grade Math Units
• 1st Grade Math Classroom Transformations (Themed Learning Days Perfect for Review!)
• 1st Grade Hands-On Math and Reading Activities
• 1st Grade Math Mysteries
• 1st Grade Math Task Cards
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