Mathematics
Counting One to Five
Counting 1 to 5
Count things you can see and touch, say one to five in order, and answer "how many?"
Let us count
Ama has a basket. What is inside?
We are going to count. Counting tells us how many.
Ready? Point with your finger. Say the number. Let us go!
Ask: Can you show me your counting finger?
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One
One goat stands by the gate.
One goat. Just one.
Say it with me: one.
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One of me
You have one nose. One mouth. One head.
Touch your nose. Say: one!
Touch your head. Say: one!
Ask: What else do you have only one of?
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Two
Two mangoes on the table. Kofi cut one open.
Point to each one. One... two!
Say it: two.
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Two of me
You have two eyes. Two ears. Two hands. Two feet.
Clap two times. Clap, clap!
Stamp two times. Stamp, stamp!
Ask: Can you find two shoes?
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Three
Three oranges. Count them with me.
One... two... three!
Three is one more than two.
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Three friends
Ama, Kofi and Abena sit on the mat.
Count the friends: one, two, three.
Three friends. Three smiles.
Ask: Can you name three people in our house?
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Four
Four legs on a goat. Four legs on a chair.
Count the chair legs: one, two, three, four!
Say it: four.
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Four of me
Hold up four fingers. Keep your thumb down.
Count them: one, two, three, four.
Wiggle them. Four wiggly fingers!
Ask: Can you find four of something in this room?
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Five
Five fingers on one hand!
Count them: one, two, three, four, five.
Give me five! High five!
Ask: How many fingers on your other hand?
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Five chicks
A hen walks by. Her chicks follow.
Count the chicks you can see. One, two, three, four, five... and more!
Cheep, cheep, cheep!
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Sing it
Numbers like to go in order.
One, two, three, four, five.
Sing along with this song. Hold up a finger for each number.
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Count in Twi
In Ghana we can count in many languages.
Twi: baako, mmienu, mmiɛnsa, ɛnan, enum.
Which language does Grandma count in?
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Point and count
When we count, we touch each thing one time.
Touch, say one. Touch, say two. Touch, say three.
Never skip. Never count one thing twice.
Ask: Count the buttons on my shirt.
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How many eggs?
Ama went to the market. She bought eggs.
Point and count. One, two, three, four, five...
How many eggs can you see?
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The last number
Count the eggs again: one, two, three, four, five.
The last number you say is how many.
Five! There are five.
Ask: Count three spoons. How many spoons?
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At the market
Tomatoes in a pile. Big red tomatoes.
Count five. One, two, three, four, five.
Mama says: "Give me five tomatoes, please."
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Bananas
Yellow bananas in a bunch.
Kwame wants two. Abena wants three.
Count two. Count three. Who wants more?
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Five little ducks
Five little ducks went out one day.
Count them on your fingers as you sing.
One less, one less, until none are left!
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Count the claps
Listen. I will clap. You count.
Clap, clap, clap. How many claps?
Now you clap. I will count!
Ask: Clap four times for me.
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Count the children
Children are playing in the yard.
Point to each child. Count out loud.
How many children are jumping?
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In the trotro
The trotro stops. People climb in.
One person. Two people. Three people.
Count them as they sit down. How many now?
Ask: How many people are in our room right now?
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Count at home
Count the cups on the table.
Count the shoes by the door.
Count the pillows on the bed.
Everything can be counted!
Ask: What will you count next?
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One little finger
Hold up one little finger. Tap, tap, tap.
Now two fingers. Now three.
Sing and tap along.
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Which has more?
Two mangoes here. Four mangoes there.
Count each pile.
Four is more than two. Which pile would you pick?
Ask: Which hand has more fingers? Trick question!
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Which has fewer?
Three oranges here. One orange there.
One is fewer than three.
Fewer means not so many.
Ask: Who has fewer shoes, you or me?
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Numbers in a row
Say them fast: one-two-three-four-five.
Say them slow: one... two... three... four... five.
Say them in a whisper. Say them loud!
Always in the same order.
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Count backwards
Now go down like a rocket.
Five, four, three, two, one... blast off!
Jump up high on blast off!
Ask: Can you count down from five by yourself?
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I can count!
Kofi counted five stones. Ama counted five chicks.
Abena counted five claps. Kwame counted five jumps.
You can count to five too. Well done!
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Count every day
Count the stairs. Count the trees.
Count the spoons at supper.
Count your toes before you sleep: one, two, three, four, five!
Ask: What did you count today?
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Learn more
- Khan Academy Kids — a free app with counting games for ages two to eight
- Super Simple — the songs in this book, with lyrics and free printables
- UNICEF Parenting: child development — how young children learn, and how to help at home
- NaCCA Ghana — Ghana's early years curriculum, which this book follows
- BBC CBeebies — games and clips for the very young
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Watch more
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Think about it
- How many fingers are on one hand?
- Can you find three of something in our house?
- If I give you one more mango and you had two, how many now?
- What comes after four?
- Which is more: two eggs or five eggs?
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This book is for reading on SchoolSpec and cannot be printed.