Counting Objects One by One from 1 to 10 and Saying Each Number Out Loud

Here is where this shows up in real life. People count out loud all day long. A grandmother counts eggs before she bakes. A father counts children before the car pulls away. Counting out loud is how we make sure nothing is lost. This is worth learning because every larger math idea sits on top of counting correctly.

Watch for it today, and when you spot it, tell someone what you noticed and how you knew. Here is something worth knowing today. Counting works when you touch one object and say one number at the same time. Put ten buttons in a row. Touch the first button and say one.

Touch the next and say two. Keep going until you touch the last one and say ten. The last number you say tells how many there are altogether. If you skip a button or say two numbers for one button, your count will be wrong. Slow fingers make right answers. Here is the mistake to watch for.

If your finger moves faster than your mouth, you will say a number for a button you never touched. Slow your finger down and let your voice keep up. Push each counted button aside so you can see exactly what is done. Practice this a few times and it will start to feel easy.