Pre-Primary Mathematics – Term 2 (WA Curriculum): Subtraction and More

What this unit covers

In Term 2, Pre-Primary Mathematics in the WA Curriculum centres on the unit “Subtraction and More”.

Term 2 Mathematics for Pre-Primary. Focus areas: subtraction, multiplication concepts. Aligned with WA Curriculum v9.

Lesson sequence (40 lessons)

The unit breaks down into the following lesson-by-lesson sequence — each title below is a teachable lesson, in order:

1. Exploring Taking Away with Physical Objects
2. Counting Backwards from 10 Using Number Lines
3. Removing Objects from Collections up to 5
4. Acting Out Subtraction Stories with Role-Play
5. Finding How Many Are Left After Taking Some Away
6. Subtracting One from Numbers up to 10
7. Using Fingers to Show Taking Away
8. Comparing Before and After in Subtraction Situations
9. Exploring Equal Groups with Concrete Materials
10. Making Groups of Two with Everyday Objects
11. Sharing Collections Equally Between Two People
12. Counting in Groups of Five Using Hands
13. Creating Arrays with Blocks and Toys
14. Doubling Small Numbers Using Mirrors
15. Grouping Objects into Sets of Three
16. Exploring How Many Groups Can Be Made
17. Cutting Shapes into Two Equal Parts
18. Finding Half of Small Collections
19. Sharing Food Items into Equal Halves
20. Identifying Whole and Half in Daily Activities
21. Folding Paper to Show Equal Parts
22. Comparing Whole Objects with Half Objects
23. Using Coins to Make Simple Purchases
24. Finding Change After Buying One Item
25. Continuing Number Patterns After Subtraction
26. Creating Movement Patterns with Grouping
27. Solving Simple Story Problems with Taking Away
28. Demonstrating Understanding Through Number Games
29. Exploring Heavy and Light by Hefting Everyday Objects
30. Comparing Which Object is Heavier Using Balance Scales
31. Discovering Which Container Holds More Water
32. Ordering Containers from Least to Most Capacity
33. Exploring How Much Space Objects Take Up
34. Comparing and Explaining Mass, Capacity and Volume in Play
35. Sorting Objects by One Attribute to Answer Questions
36. Comparing Groups of Objects Using More, Less and Same
37. Creating Object Graphs with Real Items
38. Reading and Interpreting Simple Picture Graphs
39. Making Picture Graphs Using Symbols and Images
40. Using Everyday Words to Describe What Might Happen

Curriculum codes in this unit

Content codes:

Reading the codes: WA codes (the ones starting with WA) pack the year level, learning area, strand and content number into one string, while the national Australian Curriculum v9 uses a different anatomy that starts with AC9 — same content family, different labels. Our complete WA Curriculum guide decodes both, character by character.

Planning notes for Term 2

WA terms run roughly 9–11 weeks, and in 2026 Term 2 runs from Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July — 11 weeks for WA public schools. With 40 lessons in this unit, that leaves breathing room for assessment, moderation and the weeks that disappear to carnivals, camps and public holidays — plan the assessable work to land two to three weeks before the end of term rather than in the final week.