One, Two, Three

Step 1: Let's Learn

Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.

Watch the idea first — 45 seconds. Then read on, and try it yourself in the next step.

Touch one thing. Say one number. Then the next.

Count with me

Touch the first apple. Say one. Touch the next one. Say two. Touch the last one. Say three. Three apples.

Go slowly, so your finger and your mouth stay together.

Step 2: Try It Yourself

Tap the apples and count out loud.

Tap to add an apple. Count them out loud.

How many in all3

Apples

Tap the boxes. Three counters fill three boxes.

How many3

7 more would make 10.

Counters

Step 3: In Real Life

Setting the table

Three people eat dinner. You put out three plates. Touch each plate. One, two, three. Now everyone has one.

Step 4: Watch an Example

One step at a time.

Watch Bo Count Three Blocks

Bo has three blocks in a row.

Step 1
He touches the first block and says one.
Blocks3

Watch Kai Count the Balls

Kai has some balls in a row. Kai starts. You finish.

Step 1
He touches the first ball and says one.

Step 5: Your Turn

Practice makes it stick.

Two Ducks

Problem 1 of 13

Two ducks are in the pond. How many ducks?

The Fish Tank

Problem 2 of 13

Fish swim in the tank. How many fish?

Write One, Two, Three

Watch each one draw itself, then trace it with your finger.

Problem 3 of 13

Pick a number. Start at the yellow dot.

one

Count With Me

Touch each one. Say one number.

Problem 4 of 13

How many?

Problem 5 of 13

How many?

Problem 6 of 13

How many?

Find the Mistake

A friend counted. Can you spot the slip?

Problem 7 of 13

Mia counts the balls. She says three. What did Mia do?

Problem 8 of 13

How many balls are there?

Problem 9 of 13

Leo counts the apples. He says two. What did Leo do?

Problem 10 of 13

How many apples are there?

Which Way?

Pick the way that works.

Problem 11 of 13

Kai counts his blocks. Which way works?

Problem 12 of 13

Here are some fish. Which counting is right?

Make Three

Tap to add apples.

Problem 13 of 13

Make three apples.

Tap to add one.

None yet. Add some!

How many in all0

Apples

Step 6: 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

Bo counts his blocks from one end. He gets three. Now he starts at the other end. How many?

What You Learned

Say one number for each thing.
Touch as you count.
Go slowly.

For the grown-up

Counting is two things happening at once, a word said and a thing touched, and the skill is keeping them in step. Most errors at this age are not about the number words at all.

Fast counting is where mistakes come from: the mouth runs ahead of the finger and the numbers stop matching the objects. If they say four numbers for three apples, slow the finger rather than correcting the number.

The order of the words never changes. One, two, three, every time, for everything. That reliability is the point, and it is worth saying out loud when they get it right.