Numbers 1 to 5
Primary 1 · Mathematics
Numbers 1 to 5
Lesson 3 of 8
10 min
Let's begin
Keza wants to play a game at break. She needs one friend for each finger on one hand.
She holds up her hand and counts her fingers. Then she runs to call them.
Today you will count 4 and 5.
Keep going past three. Say it out loud: one, two, three, four.
Put out beans in a row: * * * *
Touch and say: one, two, three, four.
There are 4 beans.
Hold up one hand. Count your fingers: one, two, three, four, five.
One full hand is 5. Your other hand is 5 too.
Put out stones in a row: * * * * *
Touch and say: one, two, three, four, five. There are 5 stones.
Worked example
Gatete's mangoes.
Gatete lays his mangoes on a cloth: * * * * *
He counts: one, two, three, four, five.
His mama asks, “How many?”
Gatete does not count again. He says 5.
There are 5 mangoes.
Careful! Five is not the name of the last mango. Five tells you how many mangoes are there in all.
Make this shape with stones. Two stones, then two stones, then one alone.
Your eyes learn the shape of 5. Soon you will say 5 without counting.
Make another shape. Two stones, then two stones. That shape is 4.
Hold up one hand. That is 5 fingers.
Now fold your thumb down. Count what is still up: one, two, three, four.
So 4 is one less than 5. And 5 is one more than 4.
Tip
One hand is five
Open one hand wide. That is 5, every single time.
Now fold one finger down. What you see is 4.
A song: count to five on your fingers
Count out loud, then say how many. Then tap Show answer to check.
Count this row: * * * *
Answer: 4. One touch, one number. There are 4 things.
Count this row: * * * * *
Answer: 5. The last number you say is five.
Count the fingers on one of your hands.
Answer: 5. One full hand is 5.
Ishimwe puts 4 eggs in a bowl. How many eggs are in the bowl?
Answer: 4. Count them: one, two, three, four.
Fold one finger down on one hand. How many fingers are still up?
Answer: 4. Five fingers with one folded down leaves 4.
What you learned today
Quick check
How many stones? * * * * *
