Counting: one touch for each object

Before you start

Use five counters or the five dots below. A child who can recite numbers may still need help keeping track of objects.

Work through this example

There are three dots in the top row and two below. How many altogether? Point to one dot at a time rather than guessing from the shape.

Reason step by step

1. Touch the top dots from left to right: one, two, three. Keep the touched dots separate in your mind or move real counters aside.
2. Continue, rather than restart, on the lower row: four, five. Each dot has received one number.
3. The last number was five, so there are five dots. Rearranging these same dots does not change their number.

A mistake worth understanding

Counting one dot twice gives six; missing a dot gives four. Slowing down and moving each counter after counting is more useful than reciting faster.

Try it yourself

Add one counter to the five. How many now? Then remove every counter: what number describes the empty group?

Use the idea in the game

The count unit currently asks for 0–10 dots and the next number up to 21. It does not assess every early-maths skill. Choose your school-year map; locked stages open after the previous stage.

About & help

These examples were written for Piko Game. Generated game questions may differ. A score describes a game attempt, not mastery of a school curriculum.

Content and corrections

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