Free Printable Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats
Are you looking for a hands-on way to practice addition and subtraction skills? These insect addition and subtraction mats are a ton of fun. Add them to your math lessons for hands-on learning and practice.
Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats
If you need a way to make working on addition and subtraction skills fun for your kindergarten and first grade students, these insect addition and subtraction mats are for you!
These mats are no-prep and allow students to roll, show, and write to solve addition and subtraction problems. This will engage every area of their brain as they learn in an active way that feels like a game!
This is the perfect activity to include in math centers, small groups, or as an independent learning activity for your students. Your students can even pair up and solve together!
As they complete the activity, they’ll practice building the equation, modeling it with manipulatives or drawings, and writing the complete equation with the answer. This activity touches on several math skills from number identification to addition and subtraction skills and problem-solving.
There are 2 addition mats and 2 subtraction mats included. Each skill has a butterfly-themed mat and a ladybug-themed mat.
No Prep Activity Mats
These insect addition and subtraction mats are so easy to get ready for your students. There is no prep required for these mats. All you need to do is simply print them and slide them into a write-and-wipe pocket or laminate them for durability.
This will be a huge time-saver for you, especially during the busy weeks at the end of the school year.
Setting Up the Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats
Supplies Needed:
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- Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats (button to download is at the bottom of this post)
- Dice or foam cubes
- Small manipulatives or mini erasers
- Permanent marker (optional)
- Dry-erase markers
- Write and wipe pockets (optional)
Instructions:
- Print the mats.
- Slide the mats into write and wipe pockets OR laminate them.
- Gather dice, manipulatives, and dry-erase markers.
- Store the entire activity in a colorful tray or large zipper baggie.
Practicing With the Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats
When using the insect addition and subtraction mats, there are a few key things to keep in mind depending on if you are practicing with the addition mats or the subtraction mats.
How to Use the Mats for Addition
Students will roll two dice and place them in the top spots on the mat.
Next, they’ll place the corresponding number of manipulatives (plastic counting cubes, buttons, pom poms, mini erasers, etc) on each side of the insect.
Lastly, they’ll use their dry-erase marker to write the equation at the bottom of the mat.
Example: The student rolls a 4 and a 6. They’ll place them in the boxes at the top of the mat. Then they’ll put 4 buttons on the left wing and 6 buttons on the right wing. They’ll add up all the buttons and write the equation at the bottom.
How to Use the Mats for Subtraction
Students will roll two dice and place the biggest number on the first spot at the top of the mat and the smaller number on the second spot.
Next, they’ll put manipulatives on the mat to represent the larger number rolled.
Students will remove the manipulatives on the mat to represent the smaller number rolled.
Lastly, they’ll use their dry-erase marker to write the equation at the bottom of the mat.
Example: The student rolls a 5 and a 3. They’ll place the 5 in the first box and the 3 in the second one. They’ll put 5 buttons on the butterfly and remove 3 of them. How many are left? They’ll solve and write the equation at the bottom of the mat.
Ideas for Differentiation
These addition and subtraction roll it, show it, write it mats can be differentiated to meet the needs of all your math students. If your students are struggling with a particular skill, either addition or subtraction, you can have them work only with those mats.
Additionally, you can differentiate the numbers used by making your own dice. You can do this easily by using foam cubes and a permanent marker. Simply write the numbers you’d like them to work with on the cubes. This allows you to work on equations within 10 or within 20 if you’d like.
If you don’t have manipulatives on hand, students can simply draw a picture with their dry-erase marker to represent the math problem.
This activity can be used as a mini lesson partner game, small group activity, math center activity, or even independent practice. Your students can also practice with these mats during morning work or as an early finisher activity. There are so many ways to use these no prep math mats.
Since you can simply wipe them off, you can always be prepared for addition and subtraction fun anytime of day.
I hope your students have fun practicing their addition and subtraction skills as they roll, show, and write each math problem with these insect addition and subtraction mats. This is the perfect hands-on way to practice these skills at the end of the year!
To check out more engaging addition and subtraction activities, click here!
Click the button below to grab your free copy of the Insect Addition and Subtraction Mats.
Here are some more insect activities to check out!
Ladybug Cover Up Alphabet and Letter Sounds Mats
Butterfly Cover Up Alphabet and Letter Sounds Mats
Bug Jar Addition and Subtraction Mats
Editable Insect Theme Four in a Row Game