Shop and Subtract
Here's What To Do
When at the grocery store, get a small shopping basket for your child.
Place three pieces of fruit in the basket and say, “We have 3 apples in the basket. Let’s count them together: 1, 2, 3.”
Ask your child to take 1 apple from the basket and place it back on the shelf. Then ask, “Now we’re taking 1 apple away. How many do we have left in the basket? Let’s count and find out, 1, 2! Now we have 2 apples left!” Repeat until there are no items left.
Try the activity with another set of items, such as cans or snack boxes. Start with 2 or 3 items and take away 1 at a time.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Take a moment to select a basket together and count to five.
Engage:
- "Wow, you’re holding two cans! Let’s see what happens if we take one away and put it back on the shelf. What do you think—will we have more or less in the basket?
- “What other things in the store can we subtract from one another?”
Encourage:
- "You decided to leave one banana! Great choice—let’s see what happens if we count what’s left.”
- If your child is struggling, say “If you’re not sure, that’s okay; I’ll help you figure it out when you’re ready."
Reflect:
- “How could we play this game at home? What could we use to practice subtracting in your room?”
Not quite ready?
Start with using smaller quantities such as one or two.
Ready for more?
Ask your child to count the store items by themselves as you subtract.
As your child masters this skill...
They will understand that the total gets smaller when you remove an object from a group.