Subtract from 8

Teacher: Let’s solve subtraction word problems.We need to read the problem first. Are you ready?
Student: Yes!
Teacher: Here’s a pencil and paper. I’ll read the first problem. There are 4 frogs on a log. 1 frog jumps off. How many frogs are on the log?
Student: 1 frog jumped off...it sounds like I’m taking that number away!
Teacher: That’s right! That’s 4 minus 1. How can we find the answer?
Student: I’m not sure.
Teacher: If you don’t remember what 4 minus 1 is, we can draw a picture and use a ten frame!
Student: Can I draw frogs on a log?
Teacher: Yes! Go ahead and draw the 4 frogs on a log.
Student: Here! Now do I cross 1 frog out to show it jumped away?
Teacher: Exactly! How many frogs are left?
Student: 1, 2, 3! 4 minus 1 is 3.
Teacher: Great job! 4 minus 1 is 3. Let’s try another one. We will use a ten frame this time.
Student: Okay. I’ll read the problem. There are 6 ducks on the pond. 3 ducks flew away. How many ducks are still on the pond.
Teacher: Here’s a ten frame. What number should we put in the frame?
Student: I see two numbers: 6 and 3. I think we should put 6 circles in the ten frame. That’s how many ducks we started with.
Teacher: You’ve got it! What about the 3 ducks that flew away?
Student: I’ll cross out 3 circles on the ten frame. There’s 3 circles left over!
Teacher: 6 minus 3 is 3.
Student: Wow! There’s one more problem. Can I read it?
Teacher: Yes! Go ahead!
Student: There are 8 turtles in the grass. 6 of them walked away. How many turtles are in the grass now? I want to try both strategies.
First, I’ll draw a picture. Here are the 8 turtles. 6 of them walked away, so I’ll cross out 6 of them. 2 are left over!
Teacher: Fantastic!
Student: Now I’ll use the ten frame. 8 circles go in the frame. That’s the number of turtles we started with. Now I’ll cross out 6 circles. I got 2 again!
Teacher: Terrific! We need to show what we found with numbers. Which numbers go on each line?
Student: Hm, 8 goes first. It is what we started with. Then 6 is next, the number we are taking away. 2 is the difference; it goes last! 8 minus 6 is 2!
Teacher: Wow! You did a great job using drawings and ten frames to subtract!