Subtraction - Grade 1 Math Worksheet 4 - Free Printable

Download this free printable Subtraction worksheet for Grade 1 Math. Perfect for practice, homework, and classroom use.

Grade 1 Math practice

This printable Subtraction worksheet is part of the free WizKidsHub Grade 1 Math collection. Print it at home or in the classroom for extra practice.

What this worksheet teaches

• Notice that subtraction cannot be reversed the way addition can - 9 − 4 is not 4 − 9.
• Read and complete number sentences with a missing number, such as 8 − ? = 5.
• Subtract within 20 using counting back and taking away from a group.
• Understand subtraction as both 'take away' and 'find the difference between'.

How to use this worksheet

Subtraction is harder than addition for Grade 1 students mainly because counting backwards is harder than counting forwards. Practise counting back from 15 out loud before you start the sheet. Keep ten or twenty small objects on the table so your child can physically remove items for any question that stalls.

Sample questions from this worksheet

1. 9 − 3 = ______
2. 7 − 2 = ______

Frequently asked questions

How far should Grade 1 subtraction go?

Within 20 is the usual Grade 1 expectation, with facts within 10 becoming quick and reliable first. Two-digit subtraction with borrowing belongs to later grades.

What about missing-number questions like 8 − ? = 5?

These look harder but build real flexibility, because your child has to think about the relationship rather than follow a procedure. If they stall, lay out eight objects and remove some until five remain.

Why does my child find subtraction so much harder than addition?

Counting backwards is genuinely harder than counting forwards, and 'taking away' is a less familiar action than joining. Both usually improve with objects to move and short daily practice rather than longer sessions.