Adding and Subtracting to 20

Have you ever counted your crayons or shared snacks with a friend? That is adding and subtracting in real life! When we add, we put groups together to make a bigger number. When we subtract, we take some away to find how many are left.

Let's try an example for adding: Imagine you have 8 strawberries and your friend gives you 5 more. You can count on from 8 — nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen — and you get 13 strawberries in all! You can also use a number line or draw little dots to help you count.

Now let's try subtracting: You have 14 grapes and you eat 6 of them. Start at 14 on your number line and hop back 6 spaces — you land on 8. So 14 minus 6 equals 8 grapes left. Great job!

Remember, making mistakes is part of learning — every time you try, your brain grows a little stronger. Take your time, use your fingers or a number line whenever you need, and celebrate every answer you figure out!