How many altogether?

You counted five. So how many are there?

MathAges 4–515 minutes2 pagesEnglish textInk-light

Download PDF

Free. No account, no email, no limit.

Skill: The cardinal principle, the last number said IS the answer
You will need: Objects, Pencil
Your job: Check
Stage: KG2 · ages 4–5

When I finish counting, I know the last number is the answer.

Page 1 of 2 · tap to download

How the fifteen minutes go

The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.

1
Wonder
You counted five. So how many are there?
عَدَدْتَ خَمْسَةً. إِذَنْ كَمْ عَدَدُهَا؟
2
Listen
Your grown-up counts a group and then asks 'how many?', and waits.
يَعُدُّ الْكَبِيرُ مَجْمُوعَةً، ثُمَّ يَسْأَلُ: كَمْ؟ وَيَنْتَظِرُ.
3
Explore
Count each group. Then write how many altogether.
عُدَّ كُلَّ مَجْمُوعَةٍ، ثُمَّ اكْتُبِ الْمَجْمُوعَ.
4
Share
Count something for your grown-up and tell them the total.
عُدَّ شَيْئًا لِلْكَبِيرِ وَقُلْ لَهُ الْمَجْمُوعَ.

What to say, word for word

You do not have to invent the words. Everything in quotation marks is written to be read aloud exactly as it is, fully vocalised, so the pronunciation is decided for you. The grey line under each is what to watch for while you say it.

Before you start

قلم، وحفنة أشياء صغيرة من البيت: أزرار، حبّات فاصولياء، ملاعق. الأشياء الحقيقية قبل الورقة.

1
Wonder
«عَدَدْتَ خَمْسَةً. إِذَنْ كَمْ عَدَدُهَا؟»
اطرح السؤال ثم اصمت. إن أعاد العدّ من واحد، فهذه معلومة مهمة لك، لا خطأ منه.
2
Listen
«سَأَعُدُّ أَنَا. وَاحِدٌ، اثْنَانِ، ثَلَاثَةٌ… كَمْ صَارَ عِنْدَنَا؟»
عُدّ مجموعة أمامه بإصبعك، ثم اسأل واصمت. انتظر خمس ثوانٍ قبل أن تتكلم.
3
Explore
«عُدَّ كُلَّ مَجْمُوعَةٍ، ثُمَّ اكْتُبْ كَمْ صَارَ الْمَجْمُوعُ.»
دعه يلمس كلّ شيء وهو يعدّ. اللمس يمنع تكرار العدّ نفسه مرتين.
4
think
«هَلِ احْتَجْتَ أَنْ تَعُدَّ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ لِتُجِيبَ؟ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْقَادِمَةِ، جَرِّبْ أَلَّا تَفْعَلَ.»
لا تصحّحه هنا. مجرّد طرح السؤال يجعله ينتبه إلى طريقته.
5
discover
«آخِرُ رَقْمٍ تَقُولُهُ هُوَ الْجَوَابُ. هَذِهِ هِيَ الْقَاعِدَةُ.»
قلها بوضوح مرة واحدة، بعد أن جرّب بنفسه، لا قبل ذلك.
6
Share
«عُدَّ لِي شَيْئًا فِي الْغُرْفَةِ، وَقُلْ لِيَ الْمَجْمُوعَ.»
اطلب شيئًا حقيقيًا خارج الورقة. الانتقال إلى العالم هو الدليل على أن المهارة انتقلت.

Watch for

لاحظ إن كان يعيد العدّ من واحد كلما سألتَه «كم؟». هذا يعني أن مبدأ العدد الأخير لم يستقرّ بعد.

They have got it when

إذا أجاب بالعدد الأخير مباشرة، دون إعادة العدّ، في ثلاث مجموعات، فقد فهم.

Never do this

لا تُصحّح رقمًا خاطئًا بذكر الرقم الصحيح. غطِّ المجموعة بيدك واسأله من جديد.

Three levels in the same pack

Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.

Support

Groups up to 3.

Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.

Core

Groups up to 8.

The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.

Challenge

Count, then move the objects around and ask again. The total does not change, a large idea.

Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.

For the grown-up

The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.

The answers

4, 6, 3, 7, 5, 8

If they get stuck

Count together, then cover the objects with your hand and ask again. Removing the objects forces them to rely on the number.

Common mistakes

Recounting from one when asked 'how many?'. This is THE diagnostic: it means the cardinal principle has not landed yet. It arrives on its own between three and five; do not push it.
Saying the last number without having counted properly.

When they finish early

Count, then rearrange, then ask again. If they say the same number without recounting, that is conservation, and it is a milestone worth noticing.

How many altogether?

How the fifteen minutes go

What to say, word for word

Three levels in the same pack

For the grown-up

More from Number Rocks

Put them together by colour

Same or different?

How many, without counting?