Numbers to 5 - Pre-K Math
Essential Number Recognition Skills
📚 What are Numbers 0 to 5?
Numbers are symbols we use to count objects and show "how many" of something we have.
The numbers from 0 to 5 are:
0
Zero
1
One
2
Two
3
Three
4
Four
5
Five
🔢 Number Recognition Formula
Basic Counting Pattern:
Number = Symbol + Name + Quantity
Examples:
- 1 = One = 🍎 (one apple)
- 2 = Two = 🍎🍎 (two apples)
- 3 = Three = 🍎🍎🍎 (three apples)
- 4 = Four = 🍎🍎🍎🍎 (four apples)
- 5 = Five = 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 (five apples)
👀 Identifying Numbers - Up to 5
Key Skills:
- Recognize number symbols (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Match numbers with their names
- Identify numbers in different fonts and styles
- Distinguish between similar-looking numbers
Visual Recognition Practice:
Circle the number shown:
👂 Choose the Number That You Hear - Up to 5
Listening Skills:
- Listen carefully to number words
- Connect sounds to written symbols
- Match spoken numbers with visual representations
- Practice one-to-one correspondence
Number Sound Recognition:
| You Hear | You Choose | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| "Zero" | 0 | 0 objects |
| "One" | 1 | ● |
| "Two" | 2 | ●● |
| "Three" | 3 | ●●● |
| "Four" | 4 | ●●●● |
| "Five" | 5 | ●●●●● |
✍️ How to Write Numbers 0 to 5
Important Rule:
All numbers start at the TOP!
Number Formation Steps:
0 (Zero)
Start at top, make a circle going left
1 (One)
Start at top, draw a straight line down
2 (Two)
Start at top, curve right, then slant left, then line across bottom
3 (Three)
Start at top, curve right (two bumps on the right side)
4 (Four)
Start at top, line down, line across, then line down on the right
5 (Five)
Start at top, line down, then curve around to the right
🎯 One-to-One Correspondence
Counting Formula:
Touch ONE object → Say ONE number
Counting Steps:
- Point to each object only once
- Say one number word for each object
- Count in order: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- The last number tells "how many" total
📊 Essential Counting Formulas
Basic Formulas:
Formula 1: Zero
0 = Nothing = Empty Set
Formula 2: Counting Up
0 → 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5
Formula 3: Number Before
Number Before (N) = N - 1
Example: Number before 3 is 2
Formula 4: Number After
Number After (N) = N + 1
Example: Number after 2 is 3
Formula 5: Comparing Numbers
More = Greater quantity
Less = Smaller quantity
Same = Equal quantity
🔄 Number Order & Sequence
Sequence Rules:
Forward Counting (0 to 5):
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Backward Counting (5 to 0):
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0
Missing Number Pattern:
0, 1, 2, __, 4, 5 → Answer: 3
0, __, 2, 3, 4, 5 → Answer: 1
🎨 Fun Practice Activities
Recommended Activities:
- Number Hunt: Find numbers 0-5 around the room
- Finger Counting: Show numbers using fingers
- Dot Counting: Count dots and match to numbers
- Number Tracing: Trace numbers with fingers in sand/rice
- Object Grouping: Make groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 objects
- Number Songs: Sing counting songs with actions
- Number Puzzles: Match number pieces together
- Number Coloring: Color objects by number
📋 Quick Reference Chart
| Number | Name | Visual | Fingers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Zero | ∅ (empty) | ✊ (closed fist) |
| 1 | One | ● | ☝️ (1 finger) |
| 2 | Two | ●● | ✌️ (2 fingers) |
| 3 | Three | ●●● | 🤟 (3 fingers) |
| 4 | Four | ●●●● | 🖖 (4 fingers) |
| 5 | Five | ●●●●● | 🖐️ (5 fingers) |
🌟 Key Takeaways
- Numbers 0-5 are the foundation of counting
- Each number has a symbol, name, and quantity
- Always start writing numbers from the top
- Practice one-to-one correspondence when counting
- Use fingers, objects, and visuals to learn numbers