Learning Map
MathematicsAddition & Subtractionusually ages 4–6

Subtraction as taking away or separating

Understand subtraction as taking away or separating from a group to find how many remain

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

If your child has 9 biscuits and eats 3, do they understand that subtracting means taking some away — and can they tell you 6 biscuits are left?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
How Many in Total?ages 4–6Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
Subtraction as taking away or separatingthis skill · ages 4–6
Unlocks
Division as equal sharingages 4–6Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating
Representing Addition and Subtractionages 4–6Representing subtraction with objects/drawings requires understanding what subtraction means
Fluent adding and subtracting within 5ages 5–6Fluency with subtraction within 5 requires understanding subtraction as taking away
Reading +, −, and = symbolsages 5–6Reading/writing the − symbol requires understanding what subtraction means
Addition and subtraction strategiesages 6–7Counting back as a subtraction strategy requires understanding subtraction
Finding a missing number in additionages 6–7Subtraction as unknown-addend reframes subtraction conceptually

+ 2 more in Addition & Subtraction →

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 2 ACARA · 2 NSW

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9MFN05low confidenceFoundation · Number

represent practical situations involving addition, subtraction and quantification with physical and virtual materials and use counting or subitising strategies

AC9M2A02low confidenceYear 2 · Algebra

recall and demonstrate proficiency with addition facts to 20; extend and apply facts to develop related subtraction facts

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MAE-CSQ-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1
MA1-CSQ-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 1

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Addition and subtraction word problemsages 4–6 Addition as combining or putting together twoages 4–6 Number bonds to 9ages 4–6 Numbers up to 10 into pairsages 4–6

All Addition & Subtraction skills →