It makes subtraction more interesting. Instead of just looking at numbers, students get to engage with a story, which is more fun. For example, a story about sharing toys can show subtraction in a natural way.
Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had 20 sheep. One day, 8 sheep got lost. We can write this as a subtraction story: 20 - 8. To find out how many sheep are left, we start with 20 and take away 8. We can break 20 into 10 and 10, and 8 into 5 and 3. First, take away 5 from one of the 10s, we get 5 left in that part. Then take away 3 from the other 10, we get 7 left in that part. So in total, there are 12 sheep left.
In a 2nd grade math story for subtraction, if it says 'There were 7 cookies and John ate 3 of them.' Then you subtract 3 from 7. 7 - 3 = 4, so there are 4 cookies left.
To teach subtraction stories effectively, it's important to make it interactive. You can divide the class into groups and give each group a set of objects, like blocks. Then tell a story such as 'There were 8 blocks in a tower and 3 blocks fell down. How many are left in the tower?' Have the groups work together to find the answer. This promotes teamwork and better understanding of subtraction. Also, use storybooks that involve subtraction. Read the story and then discuss the subtraction problems within it.
There were 12 apples on a tree. A little boy climbed the tree and picked 5 apples. So there were 12 - 5 = 7 apples left on the tree. Then his sister came and brought 3 more apples she had found elsewhere. So in the end, there were 7 + 3 = 10 apples in total.
You can start by using real-life examples. Like, if you have five apples and eat two, how many are left? That makes it relatable and easier for kids to understand.
It makes the concepts more interesting. For kids, plain numbers can be boring, but a story with characters and situations makes it engaging. For example, a story about a magic forest where animals are adding or subtracting fruits is much more appealing.