Ten Frame Subtraction Worksheet – Free Printable PDF
This free ten frame subtraction worksheet puts taking away inside the most trusted visual model in early maths. Each frame starts full to a given number, some counters are crossed out, and the child counts what remains. Because the frame never changes shape, they start reading quantities by position instead of counting every time. The sums are 8−3, 7−2, 10−4, 9−5, 6−2 and 10−7. Print it instantly — no login, no payment, no sign-up required.
- 📚 GRADE LEVEL → Nursery – LKG – 1st – 2nd
- 👶 AGE GROUP → 3–7 Years
- 📐 PAGE SIZE → A4 Size
- 🎯 DIFFICULTY → Beginner
Related Worksheets
More about this worksheet
About This Free Ten Frame Subtraction Worksheet for Kids
One page, one method — that is the whole of this free ten frame subtraction worksheet. A name and date line runs across the top, a coloured title band names the activity, and one line of instructions sits beneath it. At Kidzolearn, every worksheet is 100% free to download and print — no login, no subscription, no payment required.
Six ten frames in two columns, each a grid of two rows of five. The counters that stay are one colour and the counters taken away are another, with the sum and a dashed answer box beneath each frame. The problems are 8 − 3, 7 − 2, 10 − 4, 9 − 5, 6 − 2 and 10 − 7. Starting numbers run from six to ten.
A ten frame shows the whole and the part at the same time. Your child can see the group they started with and the group that is left without having to hold either number in their head, which is what makes ten frames worth the space they take up. The top row always holds five. Once your child recognises a full top row as five without counting it, the rest of the frame becomes a much shorter count. See also the note near the front about this sheet’s instruction line. For more early maths in the same style, see our sight words worksheets, and the full library sits on our free printable worksheets for kids.
What your child will learn from this worksheet
By the time the page is finished, your child will have practised:
- Count the counters left in a frame after some have been crossed out
- See subtraction and number bonds as two views of the same picture
- Solve six sums within 10 — 8−3, 7−2, 10−4, 9−5, 6−2 and 10−7
- Use five as a benchmark, because the top row of a ten frame is always five
- Stop recounting from one and start reading the remaining amount at a glance
These are the early number objectives set in LKG, UKG, Reception, Year 1 and Grade 1. Subtraction rests on secure counting, so if any of these feel slow, our number worksheets for kindergarten are the place to rebuild that foundation before pushing on.
Who is this worksheet best for?
This free ten frame subtraction worksheet is perfect for:
- Kindergarten and Grade 1 children aged 5 to 7 years meeting subtraction for the first time
- Preschool and Kindergarten classroom maths centres and small-group teaching
- UK Reception and Year 1 KS1 children working on taking away within 10
- Homeschooling parents introducing subtraction gently before written sums
Browse the complete collection of Free Subtraction Worksheets for Kids on Kidzolearn for more free subtraction printables.
How to download and print this free worksheet
Click the “Download Free Worksheet” button on this page — the PDF downloads instantly with no sign-up or email required. Print on standard A4 paper for the best experience. Once your child no longer needs the pictures, move on to the Addition Worksheet for written practice in the same range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kidzolearn worksheets really free?
Yes! Every worksheet on Kidzolearn is 100% free — no subscription, no login and no payment required at any time. Simply click the download button, save the PDF and print it instantly at home or in the classroom.
At what age should children start using this ten frame subtraction worksheet?
Around five is typical, but go by what your child can already do. If they count a group of ten without losing track and can add small numbers, they are ready for this ten frame subtraction worksheet. If either is still shaky, work on that first — almost every error at this stage is a counting error rather than a subtraction one.
How is a ten frame better than counting loose counters?
A ten frame never changes shape, so a child starts to read a quantity by where it sits rather than by counting each item. When five counters are crossed out of eight, the three left are still in a position the child recognises instantly. That structure is the whole reason a ten frame subtraction worksheet builds fluency faster than a pile of loose objects on a table.
Are ten frames part of the official early years curriculum?
Yes — subtraction within ten appears in early maths frameworks worldwide, always after addition rather than alongside it. What those frameworks share is the sequence: count securely, add with things you can see, then take away with things you can see, and only then work with numerals alone. Our free printable coloring pages cover the counting work that sits underneath all of this.
Can I use these worksheet at home?
Absolutely! This worksheet is completely free to download and print at home. All you need is a printer and a pencil — no cost, no sign-up and no login required. You can print it as many times as your child needs.