When some things go away, we take away. Today we will take away from a group and count how many are left.
Take away
There are 6 birds. 2 birds fly away. How many birds are left?
🐦🐦🐦🐦 🐦🐦
Count the birds that are left: 1, 2, 3, 4. There are 4 birds left.
Say it in words
We can say: 6 take away 2 equals 4. When we take away, the group gets smaller. To take away means to remove. The ones that remain are left.
First count how many you start with. Then take some away. Then count what is left.
Spending money
You have 10 cents. You spend 5 cents on a sweet. How much money is left?
Start: 5¢ 5¢
Spend: 5¢
Left: 5¢
10 cents take away 5 cents equals 5 cents. You have 5 cents left.
Try it
TRY ITTake away and count
Pick a game. Then tap your answer.
Let’s practise
Point, say or draw. Use toys if you like. Open each answer after trying.
1. 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊 You eat 1 orange. How many oranges are left?
Show answer
Four. 5 take away 1 equals 4.
2. There are 8 fish. 3 fish swim away. How many fish are left?
Show answer
Five. 8 take away 3 equals 5.
3. You have 7 cents. You spend 2 cents. How many cents are left?
Show answer
5 cents. 7 cents take away 2 cents equals 5 cents.
4. There were 6 balloons. Now there are 4. How many balloons floated away?
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 10
Show answer
(a) 2 balloons floated away.
Quick check
Try these three on your own first. An adult may read the words.
1. Five oranges. One is eaten. How many left?
- Four
- Five
- Six
Show answer
Four. Five take away one equals four.
2. Six birds. Two fly away. How many left?
- Two
- Four
- Eight
Show answer
Four. Six take away two equals four.
3. Seven pretend cents. Spend two cents. How much left?
- Nine cents
- Two cents
- Five cents
Show answer
Five cents. Seven cents take away two cents equals five cents.
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Maths lesson 10: Taking Away within 10 — worksheet
Point, draw or tell an adult. Use real objects first.
- Draw five circles. Cross out one. Count what is left.
- Draw six birds. Cross out two that fly away. How many remain?
- Draw seven pretend one-cent coins. Cross out two spent coins. Count what is left.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.
Maths words
Say these words with an adult. Can you use each one in a sentence?
take away · left · remove · remain · spend · fewer · equals
Try it at home
- Put 6 toy fruits on a plate. Move 2 away. Ask: “How many are left?”
- Play shop with 10 pretend cents. Spend some. How much is left?
- Act it out with toys: 5 cars in the garage, 2 drive away. Say it: “5 take away 2 equals 3.”
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- start with up to ten objects, remove some and count those left
- tell one take-away story in words using take away and left
- solve one pretend-money take-away story with counters
Let your child move real things while taking away. The symbols for take away and equals come later, in Infants 2.
Accept pointing, speaking or communication aids. An adult can scribe. Observe the hands-on work as well as the Quick check; the badge records supported completion only.
Previous: Lesson 9
Next: Lesson 11: Quick Maths
Back to Infants 1 Maths
Updates
2026/11/11
– Restored four practice tasks and a separate Quick check.
– Added a worksheet-only print button and device-only completion progress.
– Kept the original games and credited photos; improved phone layout and parent guidance.
– Linked the next lesson, Lesson 11: Quick Maths.
2026/11/08
– Replaced written practice and quick check with four supported picture questions and a completion badge.
– Improved image sizing and caption readability on laptops and phones.
2026/11/03
– First version of this lesson.
Attributions to media used in this post:
Wrapped doubles on a plate.jpg – 999real – CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons; image resized only)
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.
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