Reception Maths: Counting objects, one at a time
Part of the Reception Maths counting to 10 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Counting objects, one at a time
Amira has a basket of apples. She wants to know how many there are.
She touches each apple and says one number at a time: 1, 2, 3.
Counting means saying one number for each thing, in order. Touch each thing once. The last number you say tells you how many there are.
Key ideas
- Say one number for each thing, in order.
- Touch each thing only once.
- The last number you say tells how many there are.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 apples.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 9.
- Write the answer. There are 9 stars.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 9 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 balls.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Watch out
Watch out: if you touch the same apple twice, you will say a number too many. Move each thing aside as you count it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use real things at home, such as buttons, pasta shapes or toy cars. Ask your child to move each one as they count it. Then ask: “How many altogether?”
Exercise 1A Counting things
Non-calculatorKey words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 apples.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 5.
- Write the answer. There are 5 stars.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 5 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 8.
- Write the answer. There are 8 balls.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 8 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 2.
- Write the answer. There are 2 cubes.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 2 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 10.
- Write the answer. There are 10 apples.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 10 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 7.
- Write the answer. There are 7 stars.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 7 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 apples.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 stars.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 balls.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Key words. To count means to say one number for each thing, in order.
Method. Touch each one once and say one number for each. The last number is how many there are.
- Touch and count each one. Each thing gets one number, in order.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 stars.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one aside as you count it, so you do not count it twice.
Method. Count all the cubes, one at a time, including the new one.
- Count the cubes in the picture. Touch each cube once.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Look at the last number. The last number is how many there are.The last number is 10.
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Sam had 9 and added 1, so he has 10. ✓
Watch out. Count the new cube too.
Method. Count the balls again, one at a time, and check the last number.
- Count the balls again. Touch each ball once.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Compare with what Ben said. Ben said 9, but the last number was 8.Ben said 9. The count ends at 8.
- Write the answer. The last number tells how many.He counted one too many. There are 8 balls.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 8 again. ✓
Watch out. Touch each ball once and do not skip any.
Method. Count every thing in both rows, one at a time, without starting again.
- Count the stars in row a. Touch each star once.1, 2, 3, 4
- Carry on with row b. Keep going from 4. Do not start again at 1.5, 6, 7
- Write the answer. The last number is the total.7 things altogether.
Check. Count from the other side. You get 7 again. ✓
Watch out. Keep your count going from row to row.
Method. Look at the numbers Ravi said. Are any missing?
- Check the numbers in order. Each number is one more than the one before.1, 2, 4, 5
- Find the missing number. After 2 comes 3, so Ravi missed 3.3 is missing
- Write the answer. Count again with all the numbers.He missed 3. There are 5 stars.
Check. Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to check. ✓
Watch out. Do not skip a number when you count.
Method. A good answer says two things: each thing is touched once, and the last number is the total.
- Say what you did. You touch each ball and say one number for it.Touch each one once
- Say what the last number means. The last number tells how many there are.Last number = total
- Write the answer. Accept any answer that says each ball is touched once and the last number is how many.
Check. If you count 6 balls and touch each one once, the last number is 6. ✓
Watch out. Both parts matter: touch once, and use the last number.