Year 1 Numbers to 10: worked examples and questions with answers
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Count up to 10 things and say how many there are
- Read and write the numbers 0 to 10 as numerals and as words
- Say the number that is one more or one less than a number
- Count on and back on a number line
- Say which group has more, fewer or the same
- Put numbers to 10 in order and say which number is between two others
You should already know
- Counting in order to 10 (Reception)
- Knowing that zero means none
- Saying which of two things is bigger (Reception)
Where this leads
- Adding and subtracting within 10 (Chapter 2)
- Numbers to 20 (Year 1 Chapter 4)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 mathematics, Year 1. Content: Count forwards and backwards to 10 from any number, Count objects up to 10, Read and write numerals 0 to 10 and their number words, Use one more and one less, Compare groups using more, fewer and the same, Order numbers to 10 and use the number line.
- 1.1 Counting objects: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
- 1.2 Read and write numbers 0 to 10: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
- 1.3 One more, one less, counting on and back: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
- 1.4 Comparing groups: more, fewer and the same: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
- 1.5 Ordering numbers and finding the number in between: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
- Check-up and end-of-chapter quiz: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · lesson page
Exercise P Do you remember?
Non-calculatorMethod. Count the fingers on one hand, one at a time.
- Hold up one hand. Each finger is one thing to count.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Count the thumb too. The thumb is a finger as well, so count it.The thumb makes 5.
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Count the fingers on your other hand. It is the same. ✓
Watch out. Count the thumb. It is easy to forget it.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 7.
- Write the answer. There are 7 balls.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 7 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Method. Think about a dog standing on the ground.
- Find the legs at the front. A dog has two front legs.2 front legs
- Find the legs at the back. A dog has two back legs too.2 back legs
- Add them together. Two and two make four.2 + 2 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Count all the legs one at a time: 1, 2, 3, 4. ✓
Watch out. Count each leg once. Do not forget the back legs.
Method. Count on one at a time from 3.
- Start at 3. We count on from the number we have.3
- Say the next three numbers. Each number is one more than the one before.4, 5, 6
- Write the answer. 4, 5, 6
Check. Count back from 6 to 3 to check: 6, 5, 4, 3. ✓
Watch out. Start with the number after 3, not 3 itself.
Method. The biggest number is the one furthest to the right on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Look at where each one sits.
- Find the biggest number. Bigger numbers are further right.8 is the biggest number.
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Compare 8 with each of the others: 8 > each one. ✓
Watch out. Do not look at the size of the writing. Compare the numbers.
Counting objects
Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page
Let’s count! Counting means saying one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on. Touch each thing once as you say its number, so you do not miss one or count one twice. The last number you say tells you how many there are.
Here are some apples. Count them with your finger.
Key ideas
- Say one number for each thing, in order.
- Touch each thing only once.
- The last number you say is how many there are.
- When there is nothing to count, the answer is zero.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 apples.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.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 altogether.The last number is 9.
- Write the answer. There are 9 stars.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 9 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 cubes.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Watch out
Watch out: count each thing only once. If you point at the same apple twice, you will say a number too many. Move each thing to one side as you count it, or put a finger on it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Lay out 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 is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 apples.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 5.
- Write the answer. There are 5 stars.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 5 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 8.
- Write the answer. There are 8 balls.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 8 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 2.
- Write the answer. There are 2 cubes.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 2 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.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 altogether.The last number is 10.
- Write the answer. There are 10 apples.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 10 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 7.
- Write the answer. There are 7 stars.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 7 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. Zero means none at all. We write it as 0.
Method. When there is nothing to count, the answer is zero.
- Look inside the empty box. Check every place a thing could be.There are no apples.
- Say the number for nothing. Zero means there are none.Nothing to count, so the answer is zero.
- Write the answer. 0
Check. Zero is a number, and we write it as 0. ✓
Watch out. Zero is a number, not an empty answer. Write 0 when there are none.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 4.
- Write the answer. There are 4 apples.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 4 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 stars.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 3.
- Write the answer. There are 3 cubes.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 3 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Method. Count the apples one at a time, then compare with what Nadia said.
- Count the apples. Touch each apple once.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Compare with Nadia. Nadia said 6. We counted 5, so she has made a mistake.We counted 5, not 6.
- Write the answer. No. There are 5 apples.
Check. Count from the other side: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Still 5. ✓
Watch out. Count carefully. Check each apple once.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 7 apples
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 4 stars
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.7 > 4
- Write the answer. Group A has more apples.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.6
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.6 = six
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 3 letters.six
Check. Count out 6 things and say “six” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Method. Say each number once, in order. Check each number is one more than the one before.
- Look at what Aisha said. She said 1, 2, 3, and then 3 again.1, 2, 3, 3
- Find the mistake. She said 3 twice and missed out 4.The correct count is 1, 2, 3, 4
- Write the answer. There are 4 stars.
Check. Count the stars again, one at a time: 1, 2, 3, 4. ✓
Watch out. Each number should be different. Do not repeat a number.
Read and write numbers 0 to 10
Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page
Every number has a numeral and a name. The numeral is the number written with digits: 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on. The name is the word we say: zero, one, two, three and so on.
Zero means there are none. It is the number before one.
| Numeral | Word |
|---|---|
| 0 | zero |
| 1 | one |
| 2 | two |
| 3 | three |
| 4 | four |
| 5 | five |
| 6 | six |
| 7 | seven |
| 8 | eight |
| 9 | nine |
| 10 | ten |
Key ideas
- A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7.
- A number word is its name, like seven.
- Zero means none. We write it as 0.
- Look at the whole word when you read it.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.7
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.7 = seven
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 5 letters.seven
Check. Count out 7 things and say “seven” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“four”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.four = 4
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.4
Check. Count 4 things. The last number you say is 4. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.5
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.5 = five
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 4 letters.five
Check. Count out 5 things and say “five” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Watch out
Watch out: 6 and 9 can look alike when they are written, and they can be turned round. Check the curl at the bottom. Zero is written as the numeral 0, not the letter O.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say the number out loud before your child writes it. Then count out the same number of objects to check. Practise writing the numeral and the word side by side.
Exercise 1B Numerals and number words
Non-calculatorKey words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.1
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.1 = one
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 3 letters.one
Check. Count out 1 things and say “one” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.3
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.3 = three
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 5 letters.three
Check. Count out 3 things and say “three” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.6
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.6 = six
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 3 letters.six
Check. Count out 6 things and say “six” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.9
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.9 = nine
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 4 letters.nine
Check. Count out 9 things and say “nine” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“two”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.two = 2
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.2
Check. Count 2 things. The last number you say is 2. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“four”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.four = 4
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.4
Check. Count 4 things. The last number you say is 4. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“seven”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.seven = 7
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.7
Check. Count 7 things. The last number you say is 7. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“ten”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.ten = 10
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.10
Check. Count 10 things. The last number you say is 10. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.10
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.10 = ten
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 3 letters.ten
Check. Count out 10 things and say “ten” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.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 altogether.The last number is 10.
- Write the answer. There are 10 fingers.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 10 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.8
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.8 = eight
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 5 letters.eight
Check. Count out 8 things and say “eight” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“six”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.six = 6
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.6
Check. Count 6 things. The last number you say is 6. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Method. Write each word as its numeral, one at a time.
- Read each word. Look at the whole word.nine, zero, one, eight, five
- Write each numeral. Use the number list to find each one.nine = 9, zero = 0, one = 1, eight = 8, five = 5
- Write the list in order. 9, 0, 1, 8, 5
Check. Read the numerals back: 9, 0, 1, 8, 5. They match the words. ✓
Watch out. Zero is written as 0. It is a number, not the letter O.
Method. Count the cubes, then write the number as a word.
- Count the cubes. Touch each one once.1, 2, 3
- Find the number word. Three is written as the word three.3 = three
- Write the answer. three
Check. Count out 3 things and say “three” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word: t-h-r-e-e.
Method. Find the two numbers that are the same. Then find the one that is different.
- Look at 2 and “two”. The numeral 2 and the word two both mean the number 2.2 = two
- Look at 7. 7 is a different number from 2.7 is not 2
- Write the odd one out. 7
Check. Count two things, then seven things. Two is the same as 2, but seven is not. ✓
Watch out. The numeral and the word can name the same number.
Method. Find the word for each spelling, and check it has the right letters.
- Look at “fiv”. The number is spelled with a v at the end.fiv is not right
- Write the word correctly. The number five ends in e.five = 5
- Look at “nien”. The number nine has the letters n, i, n and e.nien is not right
- Write the word correctly. Nine is spelled n-i-n-e.five, nine
Check. Say five and nine out loud. You should hear the right words. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole word and check every letter.
Method. Find the number one more than four, then write it as a word.
- Start at four. We are looking for the number after four.four
- Count on one. One more than four is the next number.four + 1 = 5
- Write the word. five
Check. Count on from four: four, five. ✓
Watch out. One more is the next number.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“nine”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.nine = 9
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.9
Check. Count 9 things. The last number you say is 9. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
One more, one less, counting on and back
Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page
A number line helps us count. Each number is one step further along than the number before it. Start at 0 on the left and count on to the right.
One more is the next number. One less is the number just before it.
Key ideas
- Counting on means moving one step to the right each time.
- Counting back means moving one step to the left.
- One more is the next number.
- One less is the number before.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 5. One more is the number after 5.
- Start at 5. Put your finger on the number.Start: 5
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.5 + 1 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Check it: 6 − 1 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 9. One less is the number before 9.
- Start at 9. Put your finger on the number.Start: 9
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.9 − 1 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Check it: 8 + 1 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Method. Count back from 10 to 7. Each number is one less than the number before it.
- Start at the first number. We start with the biggest number.10
- Take away one each time. Each number is one less than the one before.10, 9, 8, 7
- Write the numbers. Include the start number and the end number.10, 9, 8, 7
Check. Count on from 7 to 10 to check. ✓
Watch out. Count backwards in the same way each time. Do not skip a number.
Watch out
Watch out: “one more” means the next number, not the one you start from. One more than 6 is 7, not 6.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use a number line drawn on paper, or your fingers. Put a finger on the start number, then move one step each time you count. Ask: “What is one more?” and “What is one less?”
Exercise 1C One more and one less
Non-calculatorKey words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 3. One more is the number after 3.
- Start at 3. Put your finger on the number.Start: 3
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.3 + 1 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Check it: 4 − 1 = 3. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 8. One less is the number before 8.
- Start at 8. Put your finger on the number.Start: 8
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.8 − 1 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check it: 7 + 1 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 0. One more is the number after 0.
- Start at 0. Put your finger on the number.Start: 0
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.0 + 1 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Check it: 1 − 1 = 0. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 1. One less is the number before 1.
- Start at 1. Put your finger on the number.Start: 1
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.1 − 1 = 0
- Write the answer. 0
Check. Check it: 0 + 1 = 1. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 2. One more is the number after 2.
- Start at 2. Put your finger on the number.Start: 2
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.2 + 1 = 3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Check it: 3 − 1 = 2. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 6. One more is the number after 6.
- Start at 6. Put your finger on the number.Start: 6
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.6 + 1 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check it: 7 − 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 9. One more is the number after 9.
- Start at 9. Put your finger on the number.Start: 9
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.9 + 1 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Check it: 10 − 1 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 4. One less is the number before 4.
- Start at 4. Put your finger on the number.Start: 4
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.4 − 1 = 3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Check it: 3 + 1 = 4. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 7. One less is the number before 7.
- Start at 7. Put your finger on the number.Start: 7
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.7 − 1 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Check it: 6 + 1 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 10. One less is the number before 10.
- Start at 10. Put your finger on the number.Start: 10
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.10 − 1 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Check it: 9 + 1 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Method. Each number is one more than the number before it. Use the numbers you can see to find the gaps.
- Look at the numbers before each gap. Counting on in ones means each number is one more than the one before.0, 1, ?, 3, ?, 5
- Count on one from the number before each gap. Add 1 to the number before the gap.Gap 3: 1 + 1 = 2
Gap 5: 3 + 1 = 4 - Write the missing numbers. 2, 4
Check. Read the whole line again: each number is one more than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Check the numbers after the gap too. They should still go up by one.
Method. Each number is one more than the number before it. Use the numbers you can see to find the gaps.
- Look at the numbers before each gap. Counting on in ones means each number is one more than the one before.0, 1, 2, ?, 4, 5, 6, ?, 8, 9, 10
- Count on one from the number before each gap. Add 1 to the number before the gap.Gap 4: 2 + 1 = 3
Gap 8: 6 + 1 = 7 - Write the missing numbers. 3, 7
Check. Read the whole line again: each number is one more than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Check the numbers after the gap too. They should still go up by one.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 6. One less is the number before 6.
- Start at 6. Put your finger on the number.Start: 6
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.6 − 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Check it: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 9. One more is the number after 9.
- Start at 9. Put your finger on the number.Start: 9
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.9 + 1 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. Check it: 10 − 1 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Method. Count on three numbers, one at a time, starting from 2.
- Start at 2. That is where you begin.2
- Count on three numbers. Say each number as you go.3, 4, 5
- Write the last number. The last number you say is 5.5
Check. Count back from 5 to 2: 5, 4, 3, 2. ✓
Watch out. Do not count the number you start on as one of the three jumps.
Method. Try a number and check. One more than 4 is 5, and 5 is bigger than 4.
- Try an example. Pick any number and find one more than it.One more than 4 is 5.
- Compare the two numbers. Counting on always makes the number bigger.5 is bigger than 4.
- Try another example. Is it true again?One more than 8 is 9, and 9 is bigger than 8.
Check. It works every time, because the next number is always one more. ✓
Watch out. One example is not enough to prove it. Think about what happens when you count on.
Comparing groups: more, fewer and the same
Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page
We can compare two groups to see which has more and which has fewer. The easiest way is to count each group. You can also match them up one to one: give each thing in one group a partner from the other group. If one group has a thing left over, it has more. If every thing has a partner, the groups are the same.
Key ideas
- More means a bigger number of things.
- Fewer means a smaller number of things.
- The same means both groups have equal numbers.
- To compare, count each group.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 5 apples
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 3 stars
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.5 > 3
- Write the answer. Group A has more apples.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is smaller.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 2 cubes
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 6 balls
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.2 < 6
- Write the answer. Group A has fewer cubes.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Method. Count each group. The most is the group with the biggest number.
- Count each group. Touch each one once.apples: 4
stars: 7
cubes: 6 - Find the biggest number. Compare the numbers.7 is the biggest number
- Write the answer. stars
Check. The other groups have fewer or more than 7. ✓
Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count each group.
Watch out
Watch out: a group can look bigger when its things are spread out. Always count them, or match them up one to one.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use two piles of coins or buttons. Ask: “Which pile has more? How do you know?” Your child can match the piles up one to one to check.
Exercise 1D More, fewer and the same
Non-calculatorKey words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 3 apples
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 5 stars
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.3 < 5
- Write the answer. Group B has more stars.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 4 apples
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 4 stars
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.4 = 4
- Write the answer. Both groups have 4. They are the same.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is smaller.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 6 cubes
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 2 balls
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.6 > 2
- Write the answer. Group B has fewer balls.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 7 balls
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 9 apples
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.7 < 9
- Write the answer. Group B has more apples.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 5 stars
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 5 cubes
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.5 = 5
- Write the answer. Both groups have 5. They are the same.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Method. Count each group. The most is the group with the biggest number.
- Count each group. Touch each one once.apples: 2
stars: 6
balls: 4 - Find the biggest number. Compare the numbers.6 is the biggest number
- Write the answer. stars
Check. The other groups have fewer or more than 6. ✓
Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count each group.
Method. Count each group. The fewest is the group with the smallest number.
- Count each group. Touch each one once.apples: 9
stars: 3
cubes: 5 - Find the smallest number. Compare the numbers.3 is the smallest number
- Write the answer. stars
Check. The other groups have fewer or more than 3. ✓
Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count each group.
Method. Count each person’s sweets, then compare the two numbers.
- Count Tom’s sweets. Tom has 5 sweets.Tom: 5
- Count Aisha’s sweets. Aisha has 2 sweets.Aisha: 2
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more.5 is bigger than 2
- Write the answer. Tom has more sweets.
Check. Match them up: Tom has 3 sweets left over after each of Aisha’s 2 has a partner. ✓
Watch out. Compare the numbers, not the names.
Method. Count the cubes that each person has, then compare.
- Count Ravi’s cubes. Ravi has 6 cubes.Ravi: 6
- Count Aisha’s cubes. Aisha has 6 cubes too.Aisha: 6
- Compare the two numbers. Two equal numbers mean the same.6 = 6
- Write the answer. They have the same number of cubes.
Check. Match them up one to one. Every cube has a partner. ✓
Watch out. The same number means equal, even if the cubes are different colours.
Method. Count each group, then check if Ravi is right.
- Count group A. Touch each apple once.Group A: 5 apples
- Count group B. Touch each star once.Group B: 4 stars
- Compare the two numbers. The numbers are not the same.5 is bigger than 4
- Write the answer. Ravi is not right, because the groups are not the same.No. Group A has more.
Check. Match one to one: each star has an apple partner, and one apple is left over. ✓
Watch out. Things can look full without having the same number of things.
Method. Pair each thing in one group with one thing in the other group.
- Pair them up. Draw a line between each pair, or point to each pair.Each apple has a star partner
- Look for a thing left over. A thing with no partner shows the group that has more.A thing is left over
- Write the answer. The group with the leftover thing has more.Match one to one. The group with a thing left over has more.
Check. Try it with 3 apples and 2 stars. One apple is left over, so the apples have more. ✓
Watch out. Keep each thing to one partner only.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is smaller.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 9 stars
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 10 apples
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.9 < 10
- Write the answer. Group A has fewer stars.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Ordering numbers and finding the number in between
Printable: Worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF) · Open this lesson on its own page
Numbers go in a special order. On a number line, the smallest numbers are on the left and the biggest numbers are on the right. The number before another is one less. The number after is one more. The number between two numbers sits in the middle of them.
Key ideas
- Smallest numbers are on the left. Biggest numbers are on the right.
- The number before is one less.
- The number after is one more.
- The number between two numbers is in the middle.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Smallest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the smallest and go to the next one.2, 4, 7, 9
- Write the numbers. 2, 4, 7, 9
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 3 and 5 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 3 and 5 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.3 + 1 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Count on from 4 to 5: 4 + 1 = 5. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Method. The biggest number is the one furthest to the right on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Look at where each one sits.
- Find the biggest number. Bigger numbers are further right.8 is the biggest number.
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Compare 8 with each of the others: 8 > each one. ✓
Watch out. Do not look at the size of the writing. Compare the numbers.
Watch out
Watch out: the bigger number is further to the right on the number line. Do not choose a number because it has a bigger picture or looks bigger on the page.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write three or four numbers on cards and mix them up. Ask your child to put them in order, smallest first, and then biggest first.
Exercise 1E Ordering and between
Non-calculatorKey words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Smallest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the smallest and go to the next one.1, 3, 5, 8
- Write the numbers. 1, 3, 5, 8
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Biggest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the biggest and go to the next one.10, 6, 2
- Write the numbers. 10, 6, 2
Check. There are 3 numbers in the question and 3 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 6. One less is the number before 6.
- Start at 6. Put your finger on the number.Start: 6
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.6 − 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Check it: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 7. One more is the number after 7.
- Start at 7. Put your finger on the number.Start: 7
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.7 + 1 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Check it: 8 − 1 = 7. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 7 and 9 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 7 and 9 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.7 + 1 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count on from 8 to 9: 8 + 1 = 9. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Method. The biggest number is the one furthest to the right on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Look at where each one sits.
- Find the biggest number. Bigger numbers are further right.7 is the biggest number.
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Compare 7 with each of the others: 7 > each one. ✓
Watch out. Do not look at the size of the writing. Compare the numbers.
Method. The smallest number is the one furthest to the left on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Look at where each one sits.
- Find the smallest number. Smaller numbers are further left.2 is the smallest number.
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Compare 2 with each of the others: 2 < each one. ✓
Watch out. Do not look at the size of the writing. Compare the numbers.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 2 and 4 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 2 and 4 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.2 + 1 = 3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count on from 3 to 4: 3 + 1 = 4. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 5 and 7 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 5 and 7 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.5 + 1 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Count on from 6 to 7: 6 + 1 = 7. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 8 and 10 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 8 and 10 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.8 + 1 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Count on from 9 to 10: 9 + 1 = 10. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 4 and 6 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 4 and 6 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Count on from 5 to 6: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Biggest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the biggest and go to the next one.10, 5, 3, 0
- Write the numbers. 10, 5, 3, 0
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Method. Compare the two numbers using the number line.
- Find 9 and 2 on the number line. Look at where each one sits.
- Say which number is further right. Numbers further right are bigger.9 is further right than 2.
- Write the answer. So 9 is bigger, not smaller.No. 9 is bigger than 2.
Check. Count on from 2 to 9. It takes 7 steps, so 9 is bigger. ✓
Watch out. Coming later when we count does mean the number is bigger.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the biggest, then write the one in the middle as well.
- Put the numbers on the number line. Find each number from 0 to 10.
- Read the biggest to the smallest. Start at the right.10, 5, 3, 0
- Write the answer. The smallest number is the last one in the list.10, 5, 3, 0. The smallest is 0.
Check. There are 4 numbers in the list and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have written every number once.
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Count things | Touch each one once and say one number each. The last number is how many. |
| Numerals and words | Numeral 7 is the word seven. Zero is 0 and means none. |
| One more and one less | One more is the next number. One less is the number before. |
| Compare groups | Count each group, or match one to one. The group with a leftover has more. |
| Order numbers | On the number line, smaller numbers are on the left and bigger numbers on the right. |
| Between | The number in the middle of two numbers, for example 5 is between 4 and 6. |
Can you…?
- I can count up to 10 things and say how many there are
- I can read and write the numbers 0 to 10 as numerals and as words
- I can say the number that is one more or one less than another
- I can count on and back on a number line
- I can say which group has more, fewer or the same
- I can put numbers up to 10 in order and find the number in between
Key terms
- count
- say one number for each thing, in order
- numeral
- a number written with digits, like 7
- number word
- the name of a number, like seven
- zero
- none at all; written as 0
- more
- a bigger number of things
- fewer
- a smaller number of things
- one more
- the next number
- one less
- the number just before
- between
- in the middle of two numbers
- number line
- a line with numbers in order, smallest on the left
Exercise 1Z Check-up
Non-calculatorKey words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 6.
- Write the answer. There are 6 apples.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 6 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“nine”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.nine = 9
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.9
Check. Count 9 things. The last number you say is 9. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Key words. A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7. A number word is its name, like seven.
Method. Say the number out loud, then write its name in words.
- Say the number. Listen to how it sounds.3
- Find its name on the number list. Every number has one name.3 = three
- Write the word, one letter at a time. The word has 5 letters.three
Check. Count out 3 things and say “three” at the end. ✓
Watch out. Look at the whole word. “Six” and “seven” both start with s but they are different numbers.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 6. One more is the number after 6.
- Start at 6. Put your finger on the number.Start: 6
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.6 + 1 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Check it: 7 − 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 5. One less is the number before 5.
- Start at 5. Put your finger on the number.Start: 5
- Move one step back. Each step on the number line is one number.5 − 1 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Check it: 4 + 1 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is bigger.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 7 stars
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 4 apples
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.7 > 4
- Write the answer. Group A has more stars.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Smallest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the smallest and go to the next one.2, 4, 6, 9
- Write the numbers. 2, 4, 6, 9
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 6 and 8 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 6 and 8 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.6 + 1 = 7
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Count on from 7 to 8: 7 + 1 = 8. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Method. Count back from 10 to 7. Each number is one less than the number before it.
- Start at the first number. We start with the biggest number.10
- Take away one each time. Each number is one less than the one before.10, 9, 8, 7
- Write the numbers. Include the start number and the end number.10, 9, 8, 7
Check. Count on from 7 to 10 to check. ✓
Watch out. Count backwards in the same way each time. Do not skip a number.
Key words. Zero means none at all. We write it as 0.
Method. When there is nothing to count, the answer is zero.
- Look inside the empty box. Check every place a thing could be.There are no balls.
- Say the number for nothing. Zero means there are none.Nothing to count, so the answer is zero.
- Write the answer. 0
Check. Zero is a number, and we write it as 0. ✓
Watch out. Zero is a number, not an empty answer. Write 0 when there are none.
Total 16 marks. Allow about 16 minutes.
Exercise 1X End-of-chapter quiz
Non-calculatorKey words. One more is the next number. One less is the number just before.
Method. Start at 8. One more is the number after 8.
- Start at 8. Put your finger on the number.Start: 8
- Move one step forward. Each step on the number line is one number.8 + 1 = 9
- Write the answer. 9
Check. Check it: 9 − 1 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Move one step, not two. Do not write the number you started with.
Method. Read the number word, then find it on the number list.
- Read the word. Read the whole word, not just the first letters.“seven”
- Find the word on the number list. Each word matches exactly one number.seven = 7
- Write the numeral. A numeral is the number written with digits.7
Check. Count 7 things. The last number you say is 7. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of the word before you write the numeral.
Key words. To count is to say one number for each thing, in order: 1, 2, 3, and so on.
Method. Say one number for each one, and touch each one only once. The last number you say is how many there are.
- Count each one and say its number. Each one gets one number. Do not miss one and do not count one twice.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
- Look at the last number you said. The last number tells us how many there are altogether.The last number is 8.
- Write the answer. There are 8 stars.
Check. Count again from the other side. You get 8 again. ✓
Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not lose your place.
Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number. The same means equal.
Method. Count each group, then see which number is smaller.
- Count group A. Touch each one once.Group A: 3 balls
- Count group B. Touch each one once.Group B: 6 cubes
- Compare the two numbers. The bigger number has more. The smaller number has fewer.3 < 6
- Write the answer. Group A has fewer balls.
Check. Match one to one: each thing in one group gets a partner from the other. The group with a thing left over has more. ✓
Watch out. Groups can look bigger when the things are spread out. Always count them.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Smallest first. Look at where each number sits on the number line.
- Find each number on the number line. Numbers further to the left are smaller.
- Put the numbers in order. Start with the smallest and go to the next one.3, 5, 8, 10
- Write the numbers. 3, 5, 8, 10
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out.
Method. Count back from 9 to 5. Each number is one less than the number before it.
- Start at the first number. We start with the biggest number.9
- Take away one each time. Each number is one less than the one before.9, 8, 7, 6, 5
- Write the numbers. Include the start number and the end number.9, 8, 7, 6, 5
Check. Count on from 5 to 9 to check. ✓
Watch out. Count backwards in the same way each time. Do not skip a number.
Method. Each number is one more than the number before it. Use the numbers you can see to find the gaps.
- Look at the numbers before each gap. Counting on in ones means each number is one more than the one before.4, ?, 6, ?, 8
- Count on one from the number before each gap. Add 1 to the number before the gap.Gap 2: 4 + 1 = 5
Gap 4: 6 + 1 = 7 - Write the missing numbers. 5, 7
Check. Read the whole line again: each number is one more than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Check the numbers after the gap too. They should still go up by one.
Method. One less than 10 is found by counting back one from 10.
- Start at 10. We start with the number 10.10
- Count back one. One less is the number before.10 − 1 = 9
- Write the answer. Mei said 11, which is one more, not one less.No. One less than 10 is 9.
Check. One more than 9 is 10, so 9 is one less than 10. ✓
Watch out. One less goes down, one more goes up.
Key words. Between means in the middle of two numbers.
Method. The number between 4 and 6 sits in the middle of them.
- Find 4 and 6 on the number line. Put your finger on each one.
- Count on one from the smaller number. The number in the middle is one more than the smaller one.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Count on from 5 to 6: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.
Method. Compare Ravi’s marbles with Aisha’s marbles.
- Count Ravi’s marbles. Ravi has 4 marbles.Ravi: 4
- Count Aisha’s marbles. Aisha has 9 marbles.Aisha: 9
- Compare the numbers. The smaller number has fewer.4 is smaller than 9
- Write the answer. Ravi has fewer marbles, because 4 is less than 9.
Check. Count from 4 to 9 on a number line. Ravi’s number is closer to 0, so it is smaller. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number is the number with fewer things.