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This Subtracting Multiples Of 10 drill has 40 problems for Grade 1. Skateboarding theme. Answer key included.
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Max zoomed down the ramp collecting 90 points — he must subtract by tens to unlock the ultimate trick!
Standard: CCSS.MATH.1.NBT.C.6
Subtracting multiples of 10 is a cornerstone skill that helps first graders recognize patterns in our number system and build confidence with larger numbers. When children can quickly solve problems like 45 − 10 = 35, they're learning that the ones place stays the same while only the tens digit changes—a fundamental insight that makes mental math faster and easier. This skill directly supports their ability to count money, tell time in ten-minute intervals, and eventually tackle two-digit subtraction without always relying on counting on fingers. At ages 6–7, students are developing the abstract thinking needed to see numbers as groups of tens and ones rather than just individual units. By practicing these problems, children strengthen their number sense and gain the confidence to tackle more complex math concepts. Whether they're tracking skateboard trick scores in rounds of ten or managing classroom supplies, understanding how tens work is practical and empowering.
Many first graders mistakenly subtract the 1 in 10 from both digits, turning 36 − 10 into 26 − 0 = 26 instead of 26. Others confuse the process and rewrite the problem incorrectly, such as reversing it to 10 − 36. Watch for students who count backward by ones instead of counting back by tens—this is slow and error-prone. If a child struggles, ask them to show you with base-ten blocks or draw tens and ones; this reveals whether they understand place value or are just memorizing.
Play a simple subtraction game using coins or small objects grouped in piles of 10. Give your child a pile of 50 pennies (or five groups of 10), then ask them to remove 10 at a time while you say aloud how many are left: 'We took away 10, now we have 40.' Repeat with different starting amounts. This hands-on, repetitive practice shows that taking away a whole group of 10 is just like counting down by tens, making the abstract concept concrete and memorable.