Grade 1
  1. Numbers and Counting  1.1. Counting to 10  1.2. Counting to 20  1.3. Counting to 50  1.4. Counting to 100  1.5. Writing Numbers 1 to 10  1.6. Writing Numbers 1 to 20  1.7. Writing Numbers 1 to 50  1.8. Writing Numbers 1 to 100  1.9. Reading Numbers 1 to 10  1.10. Reading Numbers 1 to 20  1.11. Reading Numbers 1 to 50  1.12. Reading Numbers 1 to 100  1.13. Comparing Numbers  1.14. Ordering Numbers  1.15. Odd and Even Numbers  1.16. Number Patterns  1.17. Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s  1.18. Understanding Zero
  2. Basic Addition and Subtraction  2.1. Understanding Addition  2.2. Addition Facts within 10  2.3. Addition Facts within 20  2.4. Adding Zero  2.5. Adding One More  2.6. Adding Two More  2.7. Adding Three More  2.8. Adding Using Pictures  2.9. Addition Word Problems  2.10. Understanding Subtraction  2.11. Subtraction Facts within 10  2.12. Subtraction Facts within 20  2.13. Subtracting Zero  2.14. Subtracting One  2.15. Subtracting Two  2.16. Subtraction Using Pictures  2.17. Subtraction Word Problems  2.18. Introduction to Doubles Facts  2.19. Introduction to Making 10
  3. Place Value and Number Sense  3.1. Understanding Tens and Ones  3.2. Counting by Tens  3.3. Place Value within 20  3.4. Place Value within 50  3.5. Place Value within 100  3.6. Reading and Writing Two-Digit Numbers  3.7. Comparing Two-Digit Numbers  3.8. Decomposing Numbers
  4. Measurement  4.1. Length  4.1.1. Comparing Lengths  4.1.2. Measuring with Non-Standard Units  4.1.3. Using Standard Units (Inches and Centimeters) in Length  4.2. Weight  4.2.1. Comparing Weights  4.2.2. Heavy and Light Objects  4.2.3. Introduction to Grams and Pounds  4.3. Capacity  4.3.1. Comparing Capacity  4.3.2. Full and Empty  4.3.3. Introduction to Liters and Milliliters  4.4. Time  4.4.1. Telling Time to the Hour  4.4.2. Telling Time to the Half Hour  4.4.3. Days of the Week  4.4.4. Months of the Year  4.4.5. Understanding Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow  4.5. Money  4.5.1. Recognizing Coins  4.5.2. Counting Coins  4.5.3. Introduction to Dollar and Cents Symbols  4.5.4. Simple Addition and Subtraction with Money
  5. Geometry  5.1. 2D Shapes  5.1.1. Recognizing 2D Shapes  5.1.2. Drawing 2D Shapes  5.1.3. Naming 2D Shapes  5.1.4. Properties of 2D Shapes  5.1.5. Sorting 2D Shapes  5.1.6. Composing Simple Shapes  5.2. 3D Shapes  5.2.1. Recognizing 3D Shapes  5.2.2. Naming 3D Shapes  5.2.3. Properties of 3D Shapes  5.2.4. Sorting 3D Shapes  5.3. Position and Direction  5.3.1. Left and Right  5.3.2. Above and Below  5.3.3. Inside and Outside  5.3.4. Near and Far  5.3.5. In Front and Behind
  6. Patterns and Sorting  6.1. Recognizing Patterns  6.2. Extending Patterns  6.3. Creating Patterns  6.4. Sorting by Color  6.5. Sorting by Shape  6.6. Sorting by Size
  7. Data and Graphing  7.1. Introduction to Data  7.2. Collecting Data  7.3. Tally Marks  7.4. Bar Graphs  7.5. Picture Graphs  7.6. Interpreting Simple Graphs
  8. Fractions  8.1. Understanding Halves  8.2. Understanding Fourths  8.3. Dividing Shapes into Equal Parts  8.4. Identifying Equal and Unequal Parts

Grade 1 → Numbers and Counting ↓


Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s


Skip counting is a method in which numbers are counted by adding the same number each time to the previous number. It helps in understanding patterns in numbers and is a fundamental concept in learning multiplication and problem-solving. In Grade 1, students learn to skip count by 2's, 5's, and 10's, which forms the basis for more complex mathematical problems. Let's learn how skip counting works with lots of examples.

Skip count by 2

When we skip count by 2, we add 2 to the previous number. This is also called counting by twos.

Counting forward from 2 when starting at 0 looks like this:

0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20...

Each number is 2 more than the previous number.

Visual example

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

As you can see in the picture above, starting from 0, each step is a jump of 2. This is like crossing out every other number.

Text example

  • The first number is 0.
  • Adding 2: The next number is 2.
  • Adding 2 again: Next number is 4.
  • Adding 2 again: Next number is 6.
  • Continue the pattern: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.

Can you see how easy it is to count objects quickly using skip counting by 2's? For example, if you have pairs of socks, instead of counting each sock one by one, you can count two by two.

Skip count by 5's

When we count backwards by 5, we add 5 to the previous number. This is called counting by fives.

Counting forward from 5 when starting from 0 looks like this:

0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50...

Each number is 5 more than the previous number.

Visual example

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

In the above visualization, starting at 0, each step is a jump of 5. This is useful for counting nickels or fingers when counting multiples of five.

Text example

  • The first number is 0.
  • Adding 5: The next number is 5.
  • Adding 5 again: The next number is 10.
  • Adding 5 again: The next number is 15.
  • Continue the pattern: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50.

Counting by 5's is very useful when you're learning to count things like fingers or objects in groups of five. Imagine you're counting coins, where each coin is worth 5 cents!

Skip count from 10

When we count backwards by 10s, we add 10 to the previous number. This is commonly called counting by tens.

Counting from 10, starting from 0, looks like this:

0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100...

Each number is 10 more than the previous number.

Visual example

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

The visual above shows how we start at 0 and move forward by 10 each time. This is especially useful for understanding numbers related to money or counting objects in large groups.

Text example

  • The first number is 0.
  • Adding 10: The next number is 10.
  • Adding 10 again: The next number is 20.
  • Adding 10 again: The next number is 30.
  • Continue the pattern: 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.

Counting by 10s is very useful for counting dimes in a collection of coins or counting pencils if there are 10 pencils in each bundle. It also helps to understand place value and how numbers grow when you add ten to a collection.

Practical applications of skip counting

Skip counting isn't just about practicing numbers. It has many real-world applications that make math much easier.

Examples in real life

  • Counting money: You can quickly count nickels and dimes using skip counting of 5's and 10's.
  • Sports: Scores in sports often involve skip counting, especially in sports such as basketball.
  • Grocery shopping: When buying items in bulk, skip counting can help you quickly tally up your total of items.
  • Music: Skip counting can help with understanding beats and rhythm, usually in sets of 2 or 4.

Practicing these concepts in daily activities strengthens understanding and accelerates learning progress.

Understanding skip counting with 2's, 5's and 10's lays the groundwork for more advanced math concepts like multiplication, division and algebra. This makes these bigger topics seem less daunting because students have developed confidence in counting and recognizing patterns.

Practice activities

Here are some activities that will help children practice skip counting:

  • Walk and Count: Take a walk outside and count trees, flowers, or cars in a counting motion.
  • Grouping and counting: Use small sets of objects such as marbles, buttons or blocks. Divide them into groups of two, five or ten and count using skip counting.
  • Clapping: While counting numbers, clap every two seconds, five seconds or ten seconds to get into the rhythm of counting.
  • Jumping on the number line: Draw a number line on a piece of paper or the ground and teach the child to jump on the numbers in twos, fives or tens.

These activities are fun and interesting for children, making learning numbers and patterns more enjoyable.

As children practice skip counting, they not only learn to count efficiently but also develop a deeper understanding of number patterns, enhancing their mathematical proficiency for future learning.


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Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s

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