Provide students with large plastic building blocks, such as Duplos or Mega Blocks. Choose one color to represent the 1s column, one to represent the 10s column, and one to represent the answer. Have students use a dry erase marker to write each number of the problem on the correct color of block. Students will stack the 1s together, subtract the numbers and add a block to the bottom with the answer. Ask students to do the same with the 10s column.
Students can be used to model how to solve double-digit subtraction problems. Allow students to come to the front of the class and share with their peers how they solved a problem. Use students as a human manipulative by giving two students small dry erase boards and having them stand on chairs, side by side. Have two more students with dry erase boards stand in front of those two students. Write one number of the problem on each dry erase board. Call two more students to sit on the floor in front of the standing students with blank dry erase boards. As the class solves the problem, ask those students to fill in their boards to give students a visual of what solving the problem looks like.
Classroom games help students practice solving double-digit equations. Place two students at the dry erase board and give them a problem. Students will race to see who can solve the problem first. Another idea is to place students into groups of two or three and give them a sheet of double-digit subtraction problems and see which group can correctly solve all of the problems in the shortest amount of time.
Online games help students practice solving double-digit subtraction problems at school and at home. Learn4Good (learn4good.com) offers the Double-Digits Math Game where students are given a problem and must click on the correct answer. The Oswego City School District offers numerous online math games for students (see Resources to play). In Ghost Blasters III, students answer two-digit minus one digit problems to extinguish ghosts and earn points. In the Speed Grid Challenge, students set a goal for how many questions they can answer in a set amount of minutes.