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🟰 Plus, Minus, and Equals Signs

Meet the symbols +, −, and = and learn to read and write number sentences like 3 + 2 = 5, matching them to things you can count.

3
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Ages 3–5
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. Meet the Plus SignRecognize the + sign, know it means 'put together', and read sums like 3 + 2 aloud.Math signs are shortcuts for words. The plus sign + means 'put together.' We read 3 + 2 out loud as 'three plus two.' Any time groups join up — ducks, blocks, cats — you can write a + between the numbers.
  2. Meet the Minus SignRecognize the − sign, know it means 'take away', and pick the right sign for a story.The minus sign − means 'take away.' We read 5 − 2 as 'five minus two.' Plus means joining and minus means leaving, so you can pick the right sign by asking what happens in the story. The signs are tiny storytellers.
  3. Equals and Number SentencesKnow that = means 'is the same as', read full number sentences like 3 + 2 = 5, and write one to match a real situation.The equals sign = means 'is the same as' — both sides match, like a balanced seesaw. Putting it all together makes a number sentence: 3 + 2 = 5, read as 'three plus two equals five.' You can write number sentences about real things, like 4 cars plus 1 more equals 5.

Questions this course answers

What does the + sign mean?

The plus sign means put together, or add.

How do you read 3 + 2?

We read the + sign as 'plus', so 3 + 2 is 'three plus two.'

What does the − sign mean?

The minus sign means take away, or subtract.

3 birds fly away from a tree. Which sign fits the story?

Birds leaving means take away, so we use the minus sign.

How do you read 3 + 2 = 5 out loud?

We read each part: 'three', 'plus', 'two', 'equals', 'five.'

You see 4 cars, and 1 more drives up. Which number sentence matches?

A car joining means plus: 4 plus 1 more equals 5 cars.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • PBS Kids — early math
  • Khan Academy Kids
  • Britannica Kids
  • NAEYC — early math learning

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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