Egg cartons offer a simple but fun game board. Clean and wash one egg carton for each pair of students in the class. Divide the class into partnerships or groups of three. Have students write the numbers 1-12 in the cubbies of the carton. To play, students place two stones in the egg carton. Each partner takes a turn closing and shaking the carton. Open the carton to reveal the two numbers for the equation (dictated by where the rocks land). Students subtract the smaller number from the larger. The partner with the larger difference is the winner of the round,
Leave it to chance and two beans to determine the subtraction equation for students to practice. Divide the class into partnerships. Each team of students will need graph paper with squares at least 1 centimeter squared. The students must fill in every square with the numbers 0-10, or higher if they are ready for more complex equations. Each student will toss the beans onto the paper and subtract the smaller number from the larger. The student with the higher difference is the winner of the round.
Add the excitement of a game of pool to practice subtraction skills. Divide the class into partnerships. Give each team a sheet of graph paper with grids at least 1 inch squared. Students must color in eight squares to represent black holes. In the other squares, students write the numbers 1-20, or higher if ready to practice with larger number. Each student will need scrap paper to do their calculating and keep track of their score. Students begin with the score 200 on their paper. Leading with the eraser end of a pencil, students must take turns shooting a penny onto the grid paper. Whichever number the penny lands on, students must subtract from 200. If the penny lands on a black hole, the player misses a turn. The first player to reach a score of 0 is the winner.
Involve the entire class in this exciting game that requires students to repeatedly practice subtraction skills. Call two volunteers to stand back-to-back in front of the class. Remove the face cards from a deck of playing cards and place one card on the forehead of each competitor. At the signal, each competitor must take three steps forward and turn to face the class. The class must subtract the small card number from the larger and call out the answer. Upon hearing the answer, the competitors will turn to see the card of the other. After mentally calculating the subtraction problem, the first competitor to call out the number on his card is the winner. Call a new competitor to challenge the winner to a subtraction dual.