Subtraction squares is a number game that you can play individually or in small groups. It requires selecting and subtracting numbers till there is nothing left to subtract. The teacher provides starting numbers and the students use a printed worksheet, which you can find on the TeacherVision website.
Prepare a worksheet containing comparative number sentences such as 250-100>100+____________. Provide multiple choice possibilities for the blank that will require the students to use their subtraction and addition skills to complete. IXL provides an online version of this.
For this game, you need a deck of playing cards, pencil and paper. Deal out the cards face down, into four equal stacks. Each player gets two stacks of cards. They simultaneously turn up the top card from each stack and subtract the smaller card from the larger. If the results match, they have a war. For the war, they add the numbers instead of subtract. The largest sum wins the war. To create two- and three-digit numbers for this game, substitute blank flash cards with the requisite numbers written on them.
You will need sidewalk chalk, an expanse of concrete, bean bags, pencil and paper for this activity. Create a large grid of two- and three-digit numbers. Each child will throw two bean bags onto the grid, write down the two numbers and subtract the smaller from the larger. Play for three or four rounds, adding the results of the subtraction for each round. The student with the highest sum wins.