Recall and use all the subtraction facts of 8

The ArithmeKit from Buzzard Publishing offers an engaging way for children to master the subtraction facts of the number 8. By presenting a series of exercises, students are encouraged to recall and match different subtraction pairs that result from subtracting various numbers from 8. For instance, they find that 8 minus 8 equals zero, and 8 minus 5 equals three. The activities are designed to be interactive, with suggestions such as starting with 8 cubes and snapping some off to see how many are left, effectively visualizing the subtraction process. This hands-on approach helps students to understand and record all possible outcomes, reinforcing their arithmetic skills and enabling them to notice patterns in subtraction.

Further exercises challenge the students to fill in the blanks to complete the subtraction facts, such as 8 minus 4 equals 4, and to create their own missing digit problems using the numbers 0 through 8. The kit encourages discussion with questions like whether there is only one way to solve these problems and how to use practical resources to demonstrate that subtracting zero from a number leaves it unchanged, as in 8 minus 0 equals 8. By engaging with these activities, students not only practice their subtraction facts but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.