Chapter 1 — Numbers and Counting
Numbers are one of the first and most important ideas in mathematics. We use numbers to count things, describe quantities, compare amounts and understand the world around us.
In this chapter, you will build your first understanding of numbers and counting. The lessons are arranged in a sequence so that each new idea builds on what you learned before.
Why This Chapter Matters
Before learning addition, subtraction and many other mathematical ideas, you need to understand numbers and how counting works.
A strong understanding of numbers will make the later chapters easier to understand.
What You Will Learn
- What numbers are.
- How counting works.
- How to read and write numbers.
- How to count objects correctly.
- How to compare numbers.
- Greater than, less than and equal to.
- How numbers are arranged in order.
- How to identify numbers before, after and between.
Before You Begin
You do not need advanced mathematical knowledge for this chapter. You should simply be ready to recognise familiar objects and count them carefully.
Parents, guardians and teachers can use everyday objects such as pencils, books, toys or blocks to make the concepts easier to understand.
Lessons in This Chapter
Follow the lessons in the order shown below. Each lesson prepares you for the next one.
Learning Sequence
The chapter follows this learning path:
Completing the lessons in sequence will help you build the concepts gradually instead of learning them as unrelated facts.
Important Ideas
- Numbers can represent quantities.
- Counting tells us how many objects there are.
- Numbers have an order.
- Numbers can be compared.
- A number can come before, after or between other numbers.
Chapter Practice
- Count ten objects around you.
- Say the numbers from 1 to 10.
- Write the numbers from 1 to 10.
- Identify which of two numbers is greater.
- Find the number before and after a given number.
Quick Revision
In this chapter, you will build the foundation needed to work with numbers. You will learn what numbers mean, how to count, how to compare numbers and how numbers are arranged.
Continue Learning
Start with the first lesson and follow the lessons in order.
The first lesson is automatically determined from the lessons available in this chapter.