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Math · Kindergarten Math

Chapter 1: Counting to Twenty

Writing Numbers

The squiggle that means how many.

Lesson
4
Time
About 13 minutes
Practice sheets
0 of 18 done
Part 1 of 8Picture It

Step 1: Picture It

Start with something you already know.

Writing your name

  1. You write your name on your picture.
  2. Those few letters mean you.
  3. Nobody needs to draw your face.

Like your name stands for you, 5 stands for five of anything.

Step 2: Let's Learn

Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.

Watch the idea first — 47 seconds. Then read on, and try it yourself in the next step.

The mark 5 means five things. It is a short way of writing a number down.

Five things, one mark

Count the stars. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now write it: 5 Five stars. Five steps. Five minutes. The same mark works for all of them.

Why we need a symbol

Drawing five apples takes time and space. Writing 5 says the same thing in one mark, and it works for apples, steps or minutes.

Step 3: Try It Yourself

Tap and try it out.

Change the number. Watch the stars and the numeral match.

How many in all6

Find the number you just wrote.

Step 4: In Real Life

A house number

Every house has a number on the door. The mail carrier reads it. The number 7 means the seventh house. Numbers tell people where you live.

Step 5: Watch an Example

One step at a time.

Watch Mia Match a Numeral

Mia has six blocks and three number cards.

  1. Step 1

    She counts the blocks and gets six.

    Blocks6

Watch Leo Write a Number

Leo has some fish. He will write how many. Leo starts. You finish.

  1. Step 1

    Leo touches each fish and says one number.

Step 6: Your Turn

Practice makes it stick.

The Card

Problem 1 of 15

A card says 9. How many things is that?

The Pencil Cup

Problem 2 of 15

Leo has these pencils. He writes how many on his cup. What does he write?

Blue pencils
Green pencils
pencils

Write Every Number

Pick any number and trace it. Come back for the ones you find hard.

Problem 3 of 15

Watch it draw itself, then take your turn.

zero

Match the Numeral

Match the mark to how many.

Problem 4 of 15

How many?

Problem 5 of 15

A card says 12. How many?

Problem 6 of 15

Nothing at all. What numeral?

  • Empty. There are none.

Problem 7 of 15

A card says 15. How many?

Problem 8 of 15

Count the blocks. Which card matches?

Red blocks
Blue blocks

Find the Mistake

A friend wrote a number. Can you spot the slip?

Problem 9 of 15

Sam counts these stars. He writes 6. What did Sam do?

Problem 10 of 15

What number should Sam write?

Problem 11 of 15

Ana has these blocks. She picks the 4 card. What did Ana do?

Green blocks
Yellow blocks

Problem 12 of 15

What number should Ana pick?

Green blocks
Yellow blocks

Which Way?

Pick the way that works.

Problem 13 of 15

Nine apples. Which way is quicker to show how many?

Problem 14 of 15

Mia writes 4 for these balls. Which way checks her number?

Find the Number

Move the marker.

Problem 15 of 15

Put the marker on 8.

Move the marker.

Step 7: Quick Check

Show what you know.

Question 1 of 1

How many?

Ready for more?Optional. Past the lesson, for anyone who wants it.

Stretch 1 of 1

A card says 16. Fill that many boxes.

Tap the boxes.

What You Learned

  • A numeral is a short way of writing how many.
  • Count first, then find the matching numeral.
  • 0 means none.
For the grown-up

Count the things, then find the numeral that says that many. The numeral and the pile are two ways of saying the same amount.

There is nothing five-ish about the shape of 5. Everyone simply agreed on it, the way everyone agreed what a letter looks like.

The mark 0 means none at all. It looks like an empty space, which is a good reminder of what it means.