What Is Subtraction?

🕐 4 min 14 sec 👦 Ages 4–5 🌍 English
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore subtraction through a fun story about sharing strawberries! Kids will learn math in an engaging way.
Understand the concept of subtraction Recognize subtraction in everyday situations Learn the vocabulary related to subtraction
📖 Story Script
                    Koko:
                    Owlo! Owlo! Something really sad happened at lunch today.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Oh my, that does sound serious. Come in, Koko, and tell me all about it.
                
                    Koko:
                    I had five strawberries in my lunchbox. Five! And then Benny asked for some, so I gave him two.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That was very kind of you, Koko. Sharing is a wonderful thing to do.
                
                    Koko:
                    I know, but then I only had three left. Where did the other two go? They just disappeared!
                
                    Owlo:
                    They did not disappear, Koko. What you just described has a special name in math. It is called subtraction.
                
                    Koko:
                    Sub... trac... tion? That is a very long word for strawberries disappearing.
                
                    Owlo:
                    It does sound fancy, but the idea is simple. Subtraction means taking away from a group to find out how many are left.
                
                    Koko:
                    So when I gave Benny two strawberries, I was doing subtraction without even knowing it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly right! You started with five, you took away two, and three were left. That is subtraction in real life.
                
                    Koko:
                    Whoa. I am basically a math genius and I did not even know it.
                
                    Owlo:
                    You really are, Koko. Now, let me show you something fun. Follow me to the art room.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Here we go. I have ten big red buttons on this table. Can you count them with me?
                
                    Koko:
                    One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Yes, there are ten buttons!
                
                    Owlo:
                    Perfect. Now, I am going to put three buttons into this little box. Watch carefully.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay, you put three away. Now there are... one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven buttons left!
                
                    Owlo:
                    Wonderful! You just did subtraction. Ten take away three equals seven.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, I get it now. Subtraction is like buttons going on a little trip inside the box.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a very creative way to think about it, Koko. I love that.
                
                    Koko:
                    Owlo, can I try? Can I be the one to take buttons away?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Of course. Here are seven buttons. You take away four, and we will count what is left.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay, taking away one, two, three, four. Now let me count what is left. One, two, three. Three buttons!
                
                    Owlo:
                    Seven take away four equals three. You got it perfectly, Koko.
                
                    Koko:
                    This is actually really fun. It is like the buttons are playing hide and seek.
                
                    Owlo:
                    I love that idea. And here is something important to remember. Subtraction always starts with a bigger number.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, because you cannot take away more than what you already have. Like, I cannot give Benny six strawberries if I only have five.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is exactly right. You cannot take away more than what is there. That is a very smart observation.
                
                    Koko:
                    I feel like I should have paid more attention to my strawberries at lunch.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Well, now you have a new way to think about it. Every time something is shared or used up, subtraction is happening.
                
                    Koko:
                    So subtraction is everywhere! In my lunchbox, on this table, probably in the garden too.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Absolutely everywhere. You will start noticing it all the time now, I promise.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay Owlo, before I go, can I tell you everything I learned today? I want to make sure I really got it.
                
                    Owlo:
                    I was just about to ask you that. Go ahead, Koko, the floor is yours.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay! So, subtraction means taking away from a group to see how many are left. It happens in real life all the time, like sharing strawberries or hiding buttons in a box. You always start with a bigger number, and you cannot take away more than what you have. And also, I was doing math at lunch without even knowing it, which is pretty impressive if you ask me.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a perfect summary, Koko. Next time, maybe we can explore what happens when we put numbers back together again.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, is that a different kind of math? I am already curious. See you next time, Owlo!