aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Mathematics
What age group	Reception / Kindergarten
What topic	Subtraction
Quantity	1
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Introduction to Subtraction: A Fun and Creative Lesson for Reception

Lesson Title: The Great Cookie Adventure

Objective:

To introduce the concept of subtraction through a fun and engaging story about cookies, using visual aids and hands-on activities.

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Opening Activity: Storytime with Cookies

Start the lesson by gathering the children in a circle. Present a large colourful picture of a cookie jar filled with cookies. Ask the children how many cookies they think are in the jar. Allow them to shout out their guesses and encourage discussion.

Engaging Storytelling

Read the following story aloud, using expressive voices and movements to draw the children's attention:

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The Great Cookie Adventure

Once upon a time, in a magical kitchen, there was a big jar filled with 10 delicious cookies. These cookies were the happiest cookies in the world. One sunny day, the little chef decided to share the cookies with her friends!

• “Let’s see how many cookies I have!” she said, pointing to the jar. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! I have 10 yummy cookies!”

Just then, her friend Benny the Bunny hopped by.

• “I’m hungry!” said Benny.
• “Okay, Benny! You can have 2 cookies!” replied the little chef.

Now it’s time to do some magic!

• The chef took out 2 cookies from the jar.
• “Let’s count how many are left!”

Interactive Counting

Together, encourage the children to help the chef subtract the cookies:

1. Call out: “How many cookies did we start with?” (10)
2. Ask: “If Benny took away 2 cookies, how many are left in the jar?”
3. Count down together: “10 take away 2 equals…?”

Use finger counting or a visual aid (like a counting chart or fingers on hands) to demonstrate the subtraction:

• 10 – 2 = 8

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Discussion Question

• “What happens when we take away a cookie? Who can show me with their fingers?”
• Invite children to show their fingers to represent how many are left.

Closing Activity: Cookie Craft

To reinforce the lesson further, provide children with paper circles (cookies) and let them create their own cookie jars.

• Instruct each child to start with 10 paper cookies.
• As you call out different scenarios (e.g., "If your friend takes 3 cookies, how many do you have left?"), have them remove the right number of cookies from their jar and count how many they have left.

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Conclusion

Wrap up the lesson by gathering the children together again to share their cookie jars and talk about what they learned about subtraction. Reinforce that subtraction means taking away and seeing how many are left.

Keywords to Remember:

• Subtraction
• Take away
• Count down

Encourage them to think of more subtraction adventures they can have at home!