Set up 9 soda bottles like bowling pins. Make a line on the floor with tape to show students where they will need to let the ball go.
Give a ball to students, and have them take turns bowling the ball. Each bowler gets two turns. Students will write the equations for the number of pins knocked down on the white board with a dry-erase marker. For example, a student who knocks over four pins on his first try will write 9 - 4 = 5. He will write 5 - 3 = 2 for his second try if he knocks down three pins.
Transition the students to writing the subtraction equations on a piece of paper. Divide the paper into four squares. Have students write a subtraction equation in each square. Students will illustrate their equations with pictures of bowling pins.
Move to automatic recall with students by playing an Around the World game. Place students in a circle. Two students will be shown a subtraction flashcard at the same time. Whoever answers first will get to move on to the next student. The winner will have made their way around the entire circle.