Transportation Subtraction Cards
This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. View our full disclosure policy here.
Planes, trains, cars, and more – “things that go” are always an engaging theme with my students! Since we are working on subtraction, we tied in a transportation theme to help us along with our learning. These free Transportation Subtraction Cards are a fun introduction to building equations for subtraction within 10 and are sure to be a hit with your kids as well!
*Pair with our Subtraction Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten!

Transportation Subtraction Cards
Anytime I can create activities that really capture my students’ interest then I am excited! Since transportation seems to be a popular theme with my kids every year, I just knew these Transportation Subtraction Cards would be the perfect addition to our math centers.
This activity is fun for students – plus it’s low-prep and versatile too!

How to Prep
To prepare the subtraction cards, I simply printed the cards (download below) and then laminated them for durability. Laminating them also means that you can use dry erase markers on them. This is perfect for math centers because the kiddos can easily grab the cards and start solving!
Alternatively, you can place whole sheets of the transportation cards inside sheet protectors or dry erase pocket sleeves instead of cutting them apart.

How to Play
To play, students grab a card, and first count the whole number of objects (including the ones crossed out). Then they write that number in the first box as their starting point.
Next, they count how many objects are crossed out or “taken away,” and that number goes in the second box.
Finally, they count how many are left to get to the final answer.

These Transportation Subtraction Cards are a super fun and hands-on way for your kids to strengthen their subtraction skills!
Grab Your FREE Set
Are you ready to work on subtraction equations with your students? Grab your free copy of the Transportation Subtraction Cards by clicking the large, yellow download button at the end of the post!
More Transportation Themed Fun
Want to continue with this fun theme? For even more engaging transportation themed ideas, check out these posts from some of my favorite kid bloggers!
Tracing Shapes With Hotwheels from Parenting Chaos
Monster Truck Math from Look! We’re Learning!
Transportation Subtraction Cards from The Kindergarten Connection
Roman Numerals Matching Game: The Glorious Flight Storybook Go Along from School Time Snippets
Language Arts Story Trains from Schooling a Monkey
Ancient History: Roman Roads from Preschool Powol Packets
Want unlimited access to even MORE of our activities and resources? Join us in the Print and Play Club!
Your planning will be so much easier with instant access to:
- hundreds of printables
- every TKC resource
- video lessons
- a digital games vault
- Pre-K and TK Scope & Sequence
- a PLAYlist of fun songs AND activities
- professional development
- additional teacher resources…
Be sure to request an invitation so that you don’t miss your chance to be part of the best early childhood club around!
- Fall Leaf Rhyming Clip Cards - November 6, 2023
- Pumpkin Alphabet Match - October 25, 2023
- Free Fall Printables for Math and Literacy - October 17, 2023
Thank you
Thank you for so many wonderful resources! I teach first grade, but these are great early in the year. Also helpful for fun practice at home for the kids who struggle most.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for the compliment! We are happy to hear that you find resources here to support you in first grade. Have a great rest of the school year!
Awesome!!