Imagine you have eight snowballs. But oh no, three of them melted! How many snowballs do you have now? Let’s count together: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. So, you have five snowballs left.
Now, let’s think about what happens if more snowballs melt. If you end up with just one snowball, how many melted away? Let’s count again: 1, 2, 3, 4. So, four snowballs melted, leaving you with one.
Even with just one snowball, you still have enough for a snowball fight!
Snowball Counting Game: Gather some small balls or crumpled pieces of paper to represent snowballs. Start with eight “snowballs” and practice the concept of subtraction by removing a few and counting how many are left. Try different scenarios, like removing two, three, or four snowballs, and see how many remain each time. This hands-on activity will help you understand subtraction in a fun way!
Melting Snowball Story: Create a short story about a snowball that goes on an adventure. As you tell the story, decide how many snowballs melt along the way. Draw pictures to show how many snowballs are left after each part of the story. Share your story with a friend or family member and ask them to count the snowballs with you.
Observation Challenge: Next time you’re outside, look for things that change over time, like ice melting or leaves falling. Think about how this is similar to snowballs melting. How many leaves are left on a tree after some fall? Try counting them and see if you can figure out how many have fallen. This will help you see subtraction happening in the world around you!
