Counting to 10

Kindergarten · Math · Study Guide

Learn how to count from 1 to 10 and understand what each number means.

Counting is one of the most important skills you will ever learn! When we count, we say numbers in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Each number tells us how many things there are.

When you count objects, you point to each one and say the next number. If you have 5 apples, you touch the first apple and say "1," the second apple and say "2," and keep going until you reach the last apple. The last number you say tells you how many there are in all.

Numbers have a special order that never changes. 1 always comes before 2, and 2 always comes before 3. Zero means "none" — if you have zero cookies, you have no cookies at all! Knowing the order of numbers helps you figure out which number is bigger or smaller. 10 is bigger than 5 because 10 comes later when we count. Practice counting every day with toys, fingers, or anything you can find!

Key terms

Count: To say numbers in order to find out how many things there are.
Number: A word or symbol that tells how many (like 1, 2, 3).
Zero: The number that means none or nothing.
Order: Numbers go in a special sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Flashcards

1 (One): A single object — like 1 sun in the sky.
2 (Two): A pair of objects — like 2 eyes on your face.
3 (Three): Three objects — like 3 wheels on a tricycle.
4 (Four): Four objects — like 4 legs on a dog.
5 (Five): Five objects — like 5 fingers on one hand.
6 (Six): Six objects — like 6 legs on an insect.
7 (Seven): Seven objects — like 7 days in a week.
8 (Eight): Eight objects — like 8 legs on a spider.
9 (Nine): Nine objects — like 9 players on a baseball team.
10 (Ten): Ten objects — like 10 fingers on both hands together.

Questions

What number comes after 5?
1. 4
2. 6
3. 7
4. 3
Show answer
Answer: 6
When we count, 6 comes right after 5: ...4, 5, 6, 7...
Zero means there are no objects at all.
Show answer
Answer: True
Zero (0) means there is nothing there — no objects at all.
How many fingers do you hold up to show the number 3?
1. 1
2. 5
3. 3
4. 2
Show answer
Answer: 3
To show 3, you hold up 3 fingers — one, two, three.
When we count to 10, the last number we say is ___.
Show answer
Answer: 10
The numbers in order end at 10: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Which number is the biggest?
1. 2
2. 7
3. 10
4. 4
Show answer
Answer: 10
10 is the biggest because it comes last when we count to 10.

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