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This Subtracting Multiples Of 10 drill has 40 problems for Grade 1. Cherry Blossoms theme. Answer key included.
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Max discovered 80 pink petals scattered across the garden! Storm winds blow more away—subtract by 10s to save them!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.1.NBT.C.6
Preview
Page 1 — Drill
Page 2 — Answer Key
What's Included
About this Grade 1 Subtracting Multiples Of 10 Drill
Subtracting multiples of 10 is a foundational number sense skill that helps first graders recognize patterns in our base-ten system. When children master removing tens—like going from 45 to 35—they build mental math confidence and prepare for two-digit subtraction without regrouping. This skill connects directly to real life: if a child has 60 cents and spends 20 cents, they need to quickly see they have 40 cents left. At ages 6-7, practicing subtraction of multiples of 10 strengthens place value understanding, which is essential for all future arithmetic. It also develops the automaticity that frees up working memory for harder problems later. By drilling these combinations, students learn that subtracting 10, 20, or 30 follows the same logical pattern every time.
What your student will practice
- Subtract multiples of 10 from two-digit numbers with fluency
- Recognize that only the tens place changes when subtracting multiples of 10
- Apply place value understanding to solve subtraction problems mentally
- Build speed and accuracy in subtracting tens combinations
Common mistakes to watch for
Many first graders subtract the tens digit from the tens digit but forget which column they're working in—for example, solving 37 - 20 by writing 17 instead of 17. Others mistakenly subtract from the ones place: they see 37 - 20 and compute 37 - 2 = 35. Watch for students who count backward by ones instead of tens, which is slow and error-prone. You can spot this by asking them to show their work or explain aloud; if they're counting "36, 35, 34..." instead of jumping by tens, they need a visual anchor like a number line.
Create a simple tens game at home using household items: line up 50 pennies or blocks, then remove 10, 20, or 30 at a time while your child states what's left. Make it playful—imagine the removed items are falling cherry blossoms blowing away in the wind, and your child is counting what remains. Repeat with different starting amounts (30, 60, 80) so they see the pattern holds everywhere. This kinesthetic, visual approach helps cement the idea that only the tens change while the ones stay put.