Subtraction Word Problems up to Twenty

It's a warm day today, and Mr Squeaks and Imani are looking after the cows. Some cows are starting to get thirsty and are wandering away from the herd to get a drink! Let's help Mr. Squeaks and Imani keep track of the cows by solving "Subtraction Word Problems up to Twenty" Subtract means to take away from a group. "There are fourteen cows. Three cows leave to drink water. How many are left?" To find the answer to a word problem using subtraction, first, read or listen to the word problem. As you read or listen, think; what do I need to work out? and highlight the question you need to solve by looking for the question mark. Remember, a question mark looks like THIS. What do we highlight? Here we highlight “How many are left?” because that's what we need to work out! Next, read or listen to the word problem again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Clue words, are words that tell us the important information we need to find the answer! In, "There are fourteen cows", highlight "fourteen cows" because that's how many cows were there at first and highlight "three cows leave", because that tells us how many left to drink water. Then, think: Do I add or subtract? "Three cows leave" tells us to subtract because they are going away! Now that we've highlighted all of the IMPORTANT information, let's write a number sentence. The number sentence we need to solve is fourteen minus three equals question mark, because there were fourteen cows, and three left to have a drink, so we work out fourteen minus three to see how many are left! The last step is to solve the number sentence. We can draw circles to help us solve, so let's draw fourteen circles, one for each cow! Since we are subtracting three, we will cross off three. Let's count together! One, two, three! How many are left? Let's count together! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven! There are eleven cows left, so we write the answer HERE. Before we check on the cows at the watering hole, let's remember! Remember, to find the answer to a word problem using subtraction, first, “Read or listen to the word problem”. As you read, think: 'what do I need to work out?' and highlight the question you need to solve by looking for the question mark. Next, read or listen to it again and highlight the clue words and numbers. Then, think: 'Do I add or subtract?' Finally, write a number sentence and use drawings to help you solve it! Don't forget to write your answer! Mr. Squeaks and Imani go to check on the cows that have gone for a drink. What's happening!? Oh no! Hold on tight Mr. Squeaks! "Bill! I haven't see you in ten years! How are you?!?!"