The Alien Smash activity is an engaging way to reinforce early subtraction skills using play dough and visual modelling. Students will read subtraction problems, roll balls of play dough to represent numbers, and physically ‘smash’ them to model subtraction in an interactive way.

How to Complete:

1. Print the activity mats or ten frame strips and problem cards on thick cardstock. Place the mats in write and wipe sleeves for longevity. Provide play dough for students to solve the problems.
2. Students select and read a subtraction word problem card.
3. They will roll and place play dough balls in the ten frame to represent the first number (the minuend).
4. Students ‘smash’ the number of balls being subtracted (the subtrahend), visually seeing the subtraction in action.
5. Students can record the subtraction number sentence on the included recording sheet as evidence of their learning.

Additional Tips:

1. If play dough is unavailable, double-sided counters can be used as an alternative.
2. Have students explain their working out process as they smash the play dough.

Extension Ideas:

1. Create Their Own: Students can write and illustrate their own alien-themed subtraction problems.
2. Timed Challenges: Make it a fun race where students see how many problems they can solve in a set time.

This activity is perfect for small group work or independent practise, helping students develop number sense and subtraction fluency in a fun, tactile way.