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Subtract Tens on an Open Number Line

Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher

"Subtract Tens on an Open Number Line" is written for 1st Grade (Ages 6-7), and it covers Common Core 1.NBT.C.6. If your little one is a year younger but already steady on subtraction, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and subtract whole tens never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.

Popular with 1st Grade teachers · Downloaded 396 times
Subtract Tens on an Open Number Line
Subtract Tens on an Open Number Line

1st grade math worksheet: subtract tens on an open number line, jumping back by 10. Answer key included. Part of our subtract whole tens subtraction collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.

How do I use this worksheet?

Before handing out the worksheet, briefly introduce the concept with a short oral warm-up or a visual model on the board. Let students work through the first item together as a class, then finish the rest independently or with a partner, encouraging them to talk through their thinking: "What strategy are you using? How do you know that is right?" After completing the worksheet, review any missed problems together and discuss the reasoning rather than just the answer. For extra support, let students use manipulatives or draw pictures alongside the written problems. These subtract whole tens worksheets work well as daily practice, homework, or a focused review activity.

What students will practice

  • Students will recognize and apply subtract whole tens concepts using number lines, ten-frames, and drawn models.
  • Students will solve problems involving subtract whole tens with increasing accuracy and confidence.
  • Students will connect subtract whole tens skills to real-world situations and explain their reasoning clearly.


Curriculum Links

Common Core State Standards

Math · 1st Grade

1.NBT.C.6
View all 1.NBT.C.6 worksheets →

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FAQ

How do I use this subtract whole tens worksheet?

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Before handing out the worksheet, briefly introduce the concept with a short oral warm-up or a visual model on the board. Let students work through the first item together as a class, then finish the rest independently or with a partner, encouraging them to talk through their thinking: "What strategy are you using? How do you know that is right?" After completing the worksheet, review any missed problems together and discuss the reasoning rather than just the answer. For extra support, let students use manipulatives or draw pictures alongside the written problems. These subtract whole tens worksheets work well as daily practice, homework, or a focused review activity.

What does this worksheet teach?

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Subtract tens on an open number line, jumping back by 10. On an open number line, mark the start. Jump back 10 for each ten you take away to find the difference. The directions on the page read: Mark the first number on the line. Draw a jump back of 10 for each ten. Then, write the difference. The answer key shows every answer.

Can I use this subtract whole tens worksheet for homeschool or classroom?

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Yes, both. We made it for 1st Grade subtraction, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with subtract whole tens. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

How do I introduce a number line to a five year old?

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Treat it as a path rather than a picture: your child puts a finger on a number and hops along it, saying each number as they land. Hopping physically is what makes the line make sense. Reading it as a diagram comes much later.

Why use a number line instead of counting objects?

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Objects show how many. A number line shows order and distance, which objects cannot. It is the first tool that makes the gap between numbers visible, and it becomes essential for skip counting, comparison, and later for negative numbers and fractions.

My child counts the marks instead of the hops. Is that a problem?

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It is the classic number line mistake and worth correcting gently. Count the jumps between numbers, not the numbers themselves. Saying "hop" out loud with each move usually fixes it within a session or two.

What pattern do students notice when subtracting whole tens?

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Students discover that subtracting whole tens works just like subtracting single digits, but in the tens place - 70 − 30 is like 7 − 3 tens, which equals 4 tens (40).

How does subtracting whole tens connect to place value understanding?

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It reinforces that digits in the tens place represent groups of ten, deepening students' place value conceptual knowledge.

Which 1st grade standard covers subtracting multiples of 10?

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CCSS 1.NBT.C.6 requires students to subtract multiples of 10 from multiples of 10 in the range of 10-90.

What subtraction skills should a first grader have?

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First graders should subtract within 20 using strategies like counting back, using related addition facts, and making ten (CCSS 1.OA.C.6). They should also understand the relationship between addition and subtraction and solve comparison word problems.

How can I help my first grader who struggles with subtraction?

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Use number lines and hundred charts to make subtraction visual. Practice fact families (e.g., 3+4=7, 7-4=3) to show how addition and subtraction are connected. Start with subtraction within 10 before moving to larger numbers. Consistent daily practice with worksheets builds confidence.

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Worksheet Details

Grade1st Grade
SubjectMath
TopicSubtraction
Standard1.NBT.C.6
Pages1 page
DifficultyMedium

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