Websink Prep UKStep-by-step practice MathsLevel 1 chaptersMaths textbooksLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Step-by-step practice: Maths · Level 1Chapter 1 · Counting to 10
Level 1 · Chapter 1

Counting to 10

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Say the numbers 1 to 10 in order
  • Count up to 10 things, touching each one once
  • Write the numerals 0 to 10 and say the number words
  • Say that zero means there are none
  • Say how many dots there are for sets of 1 to 3

You should already know

  • Nothing before this sheet: Level 1 starts here
  • Counting out loud from 1 (at home or nursery)

Where this leads

  • Counting to 20 (Level 1, Chapter 2)

Step-by-step practice: maths (Level 1). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Count forwards to 10 and say the number names in order, Count up to 10 objects, touching each one once, Read and write the numerals 0 to 10, Know that zero means none, Say how many for small sets of 1 to 3 without counting one by one.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

Non-calculator
1
FCount on from 3. What are the next three numbers?
2
FWhich number is bigger: 7 or 4?
3
FHow many fingers are on one hand?
4
FWhat number is one more than 5?
5
FWhat number comes after 8?
1.1

Counting objects

Level 1
Count up to 10 objects, Touch each object once
Video lesson: Counting objectsComing soon

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.

The last number you say tells you how many there are.

Six apples.

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.
Worked example 1.1.1
How many apples are there?

Method. Count each one once, in order, and say the last number.

  1. Touch each one and say its number. Count in order so no one is missed or counted twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  2. Say the last number. The last number is how many there are.
    the last number is 6
  3. Write the answer. There are 6 apples.
    6

Check. Count back from 6 to 1. You should land on the same answer for the total.

Watch out. Touch each one only once. Moving each one as you count it helps.

Worked example 1.1.2
How many stars are there?

Method. Count each one once, in order, and say the last number.

  1. Touch each one and say its number. Count in order so no one is missed or counted twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
  2. Say the last number. The last number is how many there are.
    the last number is 9
  3. Write the answer. There are 9 stars.
    9

Check. Count back from 9 to 1. You should land on the same answer for the total.

Watch out. Touch each one only once. Moving each one as you count it helps.

Worked example 1.1.3
How many balls are there?

Method. Count each one once, in order, and say the last number.

  1. Touch each one and say its number. Count in order so no one is missed or counted twice.
    1, 2, 3, 4
  2. Say the last number. The last number is how many there are.
    the last number is 4
  3. Write the answer. There are 4 balls.
    4

Check. Count back from 4 to 1. You should land on the same answer for the total.

Watch out. Touch each one only once. Moving each one as you count it helps.

Watch out

Watch out. Count each thing only once. 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. 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?” Aim for accurate counting first, then speed. Ten counts in about ten seconds.

Exercise 1A  Counting objects up to 10

Non-calculator
1
FHow many apples are there?
2
FHow many stars are there?
3
FHow many balls are there?
4
PSCount the cubes. Write the number as a word.
5
FHow many apples are there?
6
FHow many stars are there?
7
FHow many balls are there?
8
PSCount the cubes. Write the number as a word.
9
FHow many apples are there?
10
FHow many stars are there?
11
FHow many balls are there?
12
PSCount the cubes. Write the number as a word.
13
FHow many apples are there?
14
FHow many stars are there?
15
FHow many balls are there?
16
RSam counts the cubes and says there are 8. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
1.2

Numerals and number words, 0 to 10

Level 1
Read and write the numerals 0 to 10
Video lesson: Numerals and number words, 0 to 10Coming soon

A numeral is a number written with digits, like 7.

A number word is its name, like seven. We say it out loud.

Look at the numeral. Say its name. Then write it the same way.

NumeralWord
0zero
1one
2two
3three
4four
5five
6six
7seven
8eight
9nine
10ten
The numbers 0 to 10 as numerals and as words.

Key ideas

  • A numeral is written with digits, like 7.
  • A number word is the name, like seven.
  • Zero is written 0 and means none.
  • Say the number out loud before you write it.
Worked example 1.2.1
Write the number 7 as a word.

Method. Say the number and find its name.

  1. Look at the numeral. Find the number you need to name.
    7
  2. Say the number name. Each numeral has one number name.
    seven
  3. Write the answer.
    seven

Check. Count to 7 out loud and check you end on seven.

Watch out. Spell the number name carefully. Count the letters you can hear.

Worked example 1.2.2
Write the word “four” as a numeral.

Method. Find the numeral for the number name.

  1. Say the number name. Listen to the word slowly.
    four
  2. Find the number that matches. four is the number 4.
    four = 4
  3. Write the numeral.
    4

Check. Count to 4 and stop on 4.

Watch out. Read the whole number name, not just the first part.

Worked example 1.2.3
Write the number 10 as a word.

Method. Say the number and find its name.

  1. Look at the numeral. Find the number you need to name.
    10
  2. Say the number name. Each numeral has one number name.
    ten
  3. Write the answer.
    ten

Check. Count to 10 out loud and check you end on ten.

Watch out. Spell the number name carefully. Count the letters you can hear.

Watch out

Watch out. Check the numeral 6 and 9. They can look alike when written, so look at the curl at the bottom. Zero is the numeral 0, not the letter O.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the number aloud, then write it on paper. Ask your child to write the numeral and the word side by side. Check spelling with the table above.

Exercise 1B  Numerals and number words

Non-calculator
1
FWrite the number 3 as a word.
2
FWrite “two” as a numeral.
3
FWrite the number 5 as a word.
4
FWrite “two” as a numeral.
5
FWrite the number 6 as a word.
6
FWrite “seven” as a numeral.
7
FWrite the number 0 as a word.
8
FWrite “six” as a numeral.
9
FWrite the number 0 as a word.
10
FWrite “one” as a numeral.
11
FWrite the number 4 as a word.
12
FWrite “six” as a numeral.
13
FWrite the number 3 as a word.
14
PSWrite “four” as a numeral.
15
PSWrite the number 4 as a word.
16
PSWrite “two” as a numeral.
1.3

Zero means none

Level 1
Know that zero means none, Write 0 as a numeral
Video lesson: Zero means noneComing soon

Zero means there are none. We write it as 0.

If the box is empty, there are zero things in it.

Zero is the number before one on the number line.

An empty box: zero things.

Key ideas

  • Zero means there are none.
  • We write zero as 0.
  • Zero comes before one.
  • An empty box has 0 things.
Worked example 1.3.1
How many stars are in the empty box?

Method. Look inside the box. Is there anything to count?

  1. Look inside the box. There is nothing in it.
    nothing to count
  2. Say how many there are. When there is nothing, the answer is zero.
    zero = 0
  3. Write the answer.
    0

Check. Zero means none. Write 0 for an empty box.

Watch out. Write the numeral 0. Do not leave the answer blank.

Worked example 1.3.2
What number comes just before 1?

Method. Start at 1 on the number line and count back one.

  1. Start at 1. We count back one from 1.
    1
  2. Count back one. The number before 1 is 0.
    1 - 1 = 0
  3. Write the answer.
    0

Check. Count on one from 0: 0, 1. It works.

Watch out. Zero comes first on the number line.

Worked example 1.3.3
Ben has no pencils. How many pencils does Ben have?

Method. Zero means none. Ben has no pencils.

  1. Read the story. Ben has no pencils.
    no pencils
  2. Say how many he has. No pencils means zero pencils.
    zero pencils
  3. Write the answer.
    0

Check. Zero is the answer when there is nothing.

Watch out. Do not write 1 or leave it blank.

Watch out

Watch out. Zero is a number, so it is not nothing on paper. Write 0 when there are none.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “How many socks are in an empty drawer?” Let your child answer 0 and then check by looking.

Exercise 1C  Zero means none

Non-calculator
1
FWhat number comes just before 1?
2
FHow many stars are in the empty box?
3
FHow many balls are in the empty box?
4
FWhat number comes just before 1?
5
FHow many apples are on the empty plate?
6
FHow many stars are on the empty plate?
7
FWhat number comes just before 1?
8
FMia has no cubes in her bag. How many cubes does she have?
9
FMia has no apples in her bag. How many apples does she have?
10
FWhat number comes just before 1?
11
FHow many balls are in the empty box?
12
FHow many cubes are in the empty box?
13
FWhat number comes just before 1?
14
FHow many stars are on the empty plate?
15
FHow many balls are on the empty plate?
16
FWhat number comes just before 1?
1.4

Seeing 1, 2 and 3 at once

Level 1
Say how many without counting, for 1 to 3
Video lesson: Seeing 1, 2 and 3 at onceComing soon

You can often see a small group at once. You do not need to count one by one.

Look at the dots. Say the number. Then touch each dot once to check.

Three dots.

Key ideas

  • Small groups can be seen at once.
  • Check by touching each dot once.
  • Practise until you can say 1, 2 and 3 quickly.
Worked example 1.4.1
How many dots are there?

Method. Look at the dots, then check.

  1. Look at the whole picture. Two dots are easy to see at once.
    2 dots
  2. Touch each dot once. This makes sure none is missed.
    1, 2
  3. Write the answer.
    2

Check. Counting gives 2 as well.

Watch out. Touch each dot once so you do not miss one.

Worked example 1.4.2
How many dots are there?

Method. Look at the dots, then check.

  1. Look at the whole picture. There is only one dot.
    1 dot
  2. Touch the dot once. It is the only one.
    1
  3. Write the answer.
    1

Check. One dot, so the answer is 1.

Watch out. Count the dot even when it is alone.

Worked example 1.4.3
How many dots are there?

Method. Look at the dots, then check.

  1. Look at the whole picture. Three dots can be seen at once.
    3 dots
  2. Touch each dot once. Count them: one, two, three.
    1, 2, 3
  3. Write the answer.
    3

Check. The touching check gives 3 as well.

Watch out. Touch each dot once, not twice.

Watch out

Watch out. Dots can be spread out. Do not skip one because it is far away from the others.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Draw 1, 2 or 3 dots on paper, in any pattern. Ask your child to say the number straight away, then touch each dot to check.

Exercise 1D  Seeing 1, 2 and 3 at once

Non-calculator
1
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
2
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
3
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
4
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
5
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
6
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
7
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
8
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
9
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
10
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
11
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
12
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
13
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
14
FHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
15
PSHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.
16
PSHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Count up to 10 thingsTouch each thing once, in order, and say the last number
Write numerals and wordsSay the number name, then write the numeral or the word
ZeroZero means none. Write it as 0
Small setsLook at 1, 2 or 3 dots, then check by touching each one

Can you…?

  • I can say the numbers 1 to 10 in order
  • I can count up to 10 things, touching each one once
  • I can write the numerals 0 to 10 and say their words
  • I know that zero means none
  • I can say how many for 1, 2 or 3 dots

Key terms

count
to say one number for each thing, in order
numeral
a number written with digits, such as 7
number word
the name of a number, such as seven
zero
none, written as 0
last number
the number you say last when you count, which tells how many

Exercise 1Z  Check-up

Non-calculator
1
How many apples are there?
2
How many stars are there?
3
How many balls are there?
4
Sam counts the cubes and says there are 9. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.
5
Write the number 0 as a word.
6
Write “zero” as a numeral.
7
Write the number 7 as a word.
8
What number comes just before 1?
9
How many stars are in the empty box?
10
How many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.

Total 18 marks. Allow about 18 minutes.

Exercise 1X  Practice test questions

Non-calculator
1
FHow many apples are there?[1 mark]
2
FHow many stars are there?[1 mark]
3
FHow many balls are there?[1 mark]
4
RSam counts the cubes and says there are 7. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.[1 mark]
5
PSWrite the number 5 as a word.[2 marks]
6
PSWrite “five” as a numeral.[2 marks]
7
PSWrite the number 8 as a word.[2 marks]
8
FWhat number comes just before 1?[2 marks]
9
PSHow many stars are in the empty box?[3 marks]
10
PSHow many dots are there? Say the number you see at once, then check.[3 marks]
Chapter 2: Counting to 20 →

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings