Subtraction within 20, from crossing out acorns to number-line work and missing-number problems. Stag’s reasoning question tackles a common misconception: does taking away always make a number smaller?

The sheet comes in three differentiated tiers (Supported ●, Core ●●, Extending ●●●), all practising the same skill. You can hand out all three in one lesson and the whole class works on the same objective.

What’s included (5 A4 pages, PDF):

• Teacher’s note: overview, curriculum link and suggested uses
• ● Supported: cross out acorns in ten-frames to take away within 10, including taking away zero, plus a word problem about Hedgehog’s beetles
• ●● Core: subtraction within 20 with a number line, including missing numbers, plus a ‘how many more’ word problem about bluebells and primroses
• ●●● Extending: missing-number problems (including the form 7 = □ − 9), a mistake to fix, an open challenge, and Stag’s reasoning question: ‘Taking away always makes the number smaller.’ Is Stag right?
• Answers page with the matching National Curriculum objective

Curriculum link: Year 1 Number (addition and subtraction): ‘add and subtract one-digit and two-digit numbers to 20, including zero’. Also suits Year 2 consolidation.

Great for independent practice, small groups, intervention, homework, assessment and early finishers.

Print-ready A4, black-and-white friendly, no preparation needed. Woodland animal line art (hedgehog, hare and stag) that children can colour in.