Kindergarten
Counting to 10: touch each one once (Kindergarten)
By Tutorizer · 3 min read · The math examples come from our own lessons and are checked by our tools.
If your child is in Kindergarten, the topic "Counting to 10: touch each one once" is one of the ideas where confidence is most often won or lost. Here is what it means in plain words, a worked example you can follow together, and a few simple ways to help at home.
What Kindergarten children learn
- Count objects by touching each one once and saying one number for each
- Know that the last number said tells how many in all
- Count a line, a circle and a messy pile, and count out a number of objects when asked
The key ideas
- Touch each thing once, and say one number for each thing.
- Move each thing aside as you count it, so none is counted twice.
- The last number you say tells how many there are in all.
- The number stays the same if the things are in a line, a circle or a pile.
Quick examples
- 5 counters in a row: touch and say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the last number, 5, tells how many
- 7 counters in a circle: put a finger on the first one so you know where to stop, and you still get 7
- A messy pile of 8 blocks: move each block aside as you count it, so none is counted twice, and the answer is 8
- Asked for 6 blocks from a big pile: count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and stop at 6
A worked example
Nine toy cars are parked in a circle. How many cars are there?
- Put a finger on one car, the red one, so you know where to start and stop.
- Touch each car once as you say the numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- Stop when you are back at the red car, so no car is left out.
- The last number you said, 9, tells how many cars there are.
Answer: 9 cars
How to help at home
- Ask your child to explain the first step of the worked example in their own words before you show them anything.
- Work through the "Try it yourself" question together, and talk about why the answer makes sense.
- Spend a few minutes a day on the free Tutorizer "Counting" practice. Short and regular beats long and rare.
- If a step feels shaky, go back to the key ideas above and use objects, drawings or a number line.
Try it yourself
Hold up both hands with all your fingers standing, then fold one thumb down. Count the fingers that are still standing. How many are there?
Show the answer
Answer: 9
- Hold up both hands with all 10 fingers standing, then fold one thumb down.
- Touch each standing finger once. One hand has 5 fingers standing: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The other hand has 4 standing: keep going 6, 7, 8, 9.
- The last number said is 9, so 9 fingers are standing.
Want a challenge?
A bowl has 10 raisins. Take out exactly 6, then count the raisins still in the bowl. How many are in the bowl?
Show the answer
Answer: 4
Next steps
Not sure where your child stands? Start with a free 15-question check-in. It takes about 15 minutes, has no pass or fail, and shows what is solid and what needs practice.
Start the free check-inPractice with the free math games, no card needed.
Play the free gamesWant live help? Take a look at Kindergarten Toughest Topics, taught live on Zoom in a small group.
See the program