🐣 Primary 1🔢 Mathematics📅 First Term

Counting Numbers 1 to 10

Hello children! Today we will learn how to count from one to ten. We will use our fingers, pictures and simple words. Let us have fun counting together like Ada and Tunde do at playtime.

💡 Seeing the Numbers

Look at the pictures of the numbers 1, 2, 3 … up to 10. Each picture shows a different amount of objects. For example, the picture of 3 has three mangoes. Saying the name of each number helps us remember it.

🧠 Counting with Fingers

We can use our fingers to count. Start with a closed hand. Lift one finger and say “one”. Lift another and say “two”. Keep going until all ten fingers are up. This helps you see the order of the numbers.

🔍 Putting Numbers in Order

Numbers are like a line of friends. The first friend is 1, the next is 2, and so on until the last friend, 10. If you see the numbers written, you can point from the smallest to the biggest.

📌 Counting Everyday Things

Look around the classroom. Count the chairs, the books, the pencils. If you have three pencils, you can say “I have three pencils”. This shows how counting works in real life.

✏️ Worked examples

Example 1: Ada has 4 bananas. She picks 2 more bananas. How many bananas does she have now?
Solution: 4 + 2 = 6. Ada now has six bananas.
Example 2: Tunde sees 7 birds on a tree. Three birds fly away. How many birds are left?
Solution: 7 – 3 = 4. Four birds are left on the tree.
Example 3: Musa counts his toys: 1 car, 1 ball, 1 doll. How many toys in total?
Solution: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. Musa has three toys.
Example 4: Ngozi lines up 5 beads and then adds 2 more beads. How many beads are in the line?
Solution: 5 + 2 = 7. There are seven beads.

⭐ Remember

  • Numbers 1 to 10 are written as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
  • Count using fingers or objects to see the amount.
  • The order never changes: 1 comes before 2, 2 before 3, … up to 10.
  • You can add small numbers together to find a bigger number.
  • You can subtract a small number to find what is left.

🙌 Try this

Count the number of mangoes on your plate. Write the number you counted and say it out loud.

🎬 Watch and learn

Learn Numbers and Counting 1 to 10 Flashcards | Number Names for Kids
Learning Step By Step · YouTube

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✨ Lesson written by AI from the Nigerian curriculum. Please tell us if you spot a mistake.