Concept of Subtraction Preschool Learning Video

What's Concept of Subtraction About?

Watch your little one master the magic of "one less" through a heartwarming banana-sharing adventure! After this video, they'll understand that subtraction means counting backward and can spot it happening all around them.

9 minutes
Ages 3-6
Skill: Understanding subtraction as "taking away"

Your kid watches friendly animals share bananas while learning subtraction. You get 9 minutes to enjoy your coffee in peace.

Maddy Monkey brings a bunch of bananas to share with friends in an outdoor jungle classroom. As each banana gets handed out, Mr. Rocko guides the class through counting what's left. Kids see the minus sign introduced and watch equations appear on screen as the banana count shrinks from ten all the way down to zero.

What your child learns:

This video transforms an abstract math concept into something tangible and fun. Children discover that subtraction is simply counting backward—when you give something away, you have "one less." They'll also learn to recognize the minus sign and understand what equations look like.

• Understands subtraction as "taking away" or "one less"
• Recognizes the minus sign (-) and its meaning
• Counts backward from 10 to 0 with confidence
• Reads simple subtraction equations (10-1=9)
• Connects math to real sharing situations

They'll use these skills when:

• Sharing crackers with a sibling and figuring out how many are left
• Putting toys away and counting what's still on the floor
• Eating grapes one by one and tracking the remaining pile
• Playing games where pieces get removed from the board

The Story (what keeps them watching)

Maddy Monkey arrives at outdoor class with nine bananas to share—but wait, he started with ten! He remembers giving one to Eddie on the way. Mr. Rocko turns this into a learning moment, and as Maddy hands out bananas to Ruby, Bobby, Gina, Tiki, and even a surprise squirrel visitor, the class counts along. Each handoff becomes a mini math lesson, with equations popping up on screen. By the end, everyone has a banana, Maddy has zero, and the whole class understands subtraction through the joy of sharing.

How We Teach It (the clever part)

• First 3 minutes: The concept of "one less" is introduced naturally when Maddy realizes he has 9 bananas instead of 10. Mr. Rocko explains that giving away means having less.
• Minutes 3-7: Each banana handoff reinforces the pattern. Kids see the equation on screen, hear the counting, and watch the visual representation shrink. The minus sign is introduced as "a pencil held sideways."
• Final 2 minutes: The sequence completes as Maddy reaches zero bananas. Mr. Rocko celebrates the learning and encourages kids to practice at home.

Teaching trick: Eddie compares the minus sign to a pencil held sideways—giving kids a visual anchor they can recreate with any object at home!

After Watching: Quick Wins to Reinforce Learning

• Mealtime activity: "You have 5 strawberries. If you eat one, how many are left?" Count together as they munch. (Practices subtraction with real objects they can see and touch)
• Car/travel activity: "I spy 3 red cars. One drove away! How many red cars now?" Keep it playful and low-pressure. (Reinforces "taking away" in a visual, changing environment)
• Bedtime activity: "You have 4 stuffed animals on your bed. Let's put one on the shelf. How many are snuggling with you now?" (Connects subtraction to calming routines)
• Anytime activity: Stack 6 blocks together, then remove one at a time saying "one less!" each time. Let them predict what's left. (Builds hands-on understanding of decreasing quantities)

When Kids Get Stuck. And How to Help.

• "My child keeps adding instead of subtracting" - Totally normal! Use hand motions: open palm for the starting number, then close fingers as you "take away." The physical movement helps their brain distinguish between more and less.
• "They can't remember what the minus sign means" - Try Eddie's trick from the video! Have them hold a crayon sideways and say "minus means take away." Connecting symbols to movements builds lasting memory.
• "The equations seem too advanced for my preschooler" - Focus on the concept, not the symbols. If they understand that sharing a cookie means having fewer cookies, they've got it! The written equations will click later.

What Your Child Will Learn

Prerequisites and Building Blocks

Children watching this video should be comfortable counting from 1-10 and have a basic understanding of "more" and "less" as comparison concepts. This lesson builds directly on the "one more" concept referenced in the video, where children learned that adding means counting forward. Subtraction is presented as the natural opposite—counting backward. This positions learners perfectly for future multi-digit subtraction and establishes the foundational understanding that addition and subtraction are inverse operations.

Cognitive Development and Teaching Methodology

The video leverages concrete operational thinking appropriate for ages 3-6 by using tangible objects (bananas) rather than abstract numbers. Repetition with variation—the same pattern applied multiple times with different characters—builds neural pathways without boring young viewers. Visual learners see on-screen equations, auditory learners hear counting aloud, and kinesthetic understanding is sparked through the sharing motions. The social context of sharing makes the math emotionally relevant, increasing retention.

Alignment with Educational Standards

This video addresses Common Core Math Standard K.OA.A.1 (represent addition and subtraction with objects) and K.OA.A.2 (solve addition and subtraction word problems within 10). It also supports NAEYC's mathematics guidelines for understanding quantity changes. Kindergarten teachers expect incoming students to understand that quantities decrease when items are removed—this video builds exactly that foundational number sense through developmentally appropriate storytelling.

Extended Learning Opportunities

Pair this video with printable worksheets featuring banana counting exercises or "cross out and count" activities. The Kokotree app's counting games reinforce these skills interactively. Parents can extend learning by creating a "subtraction jar"—start with 10 small toys, remove some daily, and track what's left. Reading books about sharing naturally incorporates subtraction conversations. Building block towers and removing pieces one-by-one provides excellent hands-on practice.

Transcript Highlights

Introducing the concept: "Counting one less means we are reducing a number by one. Maddy had ten bananas. He gave away one banana to Eddie. So now he is left with nine bananas."

Making symbols memorable: "The negative sign symbol kind of looks like if you held a pencil sideways. Like this!" (Eddie demonstrates)

Connecting to real life: "Just a thought Mister Rocko, the more we give the less we have. Is that right?" (Ruby's observation)

Reinforcing through repetition: "So we can say that if we take away one from nine. We are left with eight."

Character Development and Story Arc

Maddy Monkey models generosity and mathematical thinking simultaneously—he shares willingly while staying engaged in counting. Mr. Rocko demonstrates excellent teaching by turning an everyday moment into a learning opportunity without being preachy. Ruby shows curiosity by asking questions, while Eddie displays creative thinking by connecting the minus sign to a familiar object. The surprise squirrel adds delight and shows that sharing extends beyond just friends—reinforcing both the math concept and prosocial behavior.

Understanding Subtraction: The Mathematical Foundation

Subtraction is one of the four fundamental operations of arithmetic and represents the mathematical concept of "taking away" or finding the difference between quantities. For preschoolers, understanding subtraction begins with concrete manipulation—physically removing objects and observing the result. This video brilliantly scaffolds from concrete (actual bananas being handed out) to pictorial (on-screen illustrations) to abstract (written equations).

The concept of "one less" introduced here establishes crucial number sense. Children learn that numbers exist in a sequence and that moving backward in that sequence represents subtraction. This understanding prevents common misconceptions later, such as believing subtraction always makes things "disappear" rather than understanding it as a relationship between quantities.

The video introduces the minus sign (-) in a memorable, child-friendly way by comparing it to a sideways pencil. This concrete association helps children recognize and remember the symbol. Importantly, the equals sign is also shown repeatedly, building familiarity with equation structure.

By starting with 10 and systematically working down to 0, children experience the complete subtraction sequence within the counting numbers they know best. The varying amounts taken away (sometimes one, sometimes two) prevents rote memorization and encourages actual mathematical thinking. This approach builds flexibility—children learn that subtraction isn't just "minus one" but can involve any amount being removed.

The social context of sharing adds emotional weight to the mathematical concept, making it more memorable and personally relevant to young learners who navigate sharing situations daily.