Numbers 1 to 5
Primary 1 · Mathematics
Numbers 1 to 5
Lesson 2 of 8
10 min
Let's begin
Mugisha picks up small stones on the path to school. He puts them in his pocket.
At break he lays them on the ground. Keza asks him how many he has.
Today you will count 1, 2, 3.
Counting has one big rule. One touch, one number.
Put your stones in a row. Touch the stone at the end.
Say one. Touch the next stone. Say two. Touch the next stone. Say three.
Move each stone away as you count it. Then you cannot touch it twice.
Careful! Do not say the numbers fast. Your mouth must wait for your finger.
Say them out loud with me: one, two, three.
The order never changes. Two always comes after one. Three always comes after two.
Worked example
Mugisha's stones.
His stones lie in a row: * * *
Touch and say: one, two, three.
The last number he said is three.
So Mugisha has 3 stones.
Now say the whole sentence out loud: “There are 3 stones.”
Hold up one finger. That is 1. Hold up one more. That is 2.
Hold up one more finger. That is 3.
Your fingers are always with you. Use them any time.
You can count beans. You can count sticks. You can count goats.
Counting works the same way every time.
Uwase counts the chairs in her house: one, two, three.
There are 3 chairs.
Careful! Never point at one thing two times. Move it away as you count it.
Tip
Your finger is the boss
Whisper each number as your finger touches: one... two... three.
If your mouth runs ahead of your finger, stop. Go back and start at one.
Indirimbo mu Kinyarwanda: rimwe, kabiri, gatatu
Touch as you count. Then tap Show answer to check.
Count this row of beans: * *
Answer: 2. Touch, say one. Touch, say two.
Count this row of sticks: * * *
Answer: 3. The last number you say is three.
Count this row: *
Answer: 1. One touch, one number.
Keza holds 2 pencils. Her friend gives her nothing more. How many pencils does Keza hold?
Answer: 2. Nothing was added, so it stays 2.
Now take 3 beans from the kitchen. Put them on the mat one by one and count out loud.
Answer: one, two, three. There are 3 beans.
What you learned today
Quick check
How many stones? * * *
