🔢 Numbers & shapes · Ages 4–5 · about 2 weeks

Seeing and Splitting Five

Goal: Recognise small groups of up to five and show how two smaller groups make five altogether.

For parents: Seeing a small amount without counting each item is called subitising. Start with one, two and three. Always allow counting to check. Explore ways to make five with objects; there is no need to memorise sums.

Do together

  1. Look, say, check

    You need: Paper and a crayon

    Draw separate cards with one, two or three large dots. Show one and ask how many your child notices. Leave it visible while they explain or count. Later try four as two and two, and five as two and three.

  2. Five on two plates

    You need: Five large spoons and two unbreakable plates

    Count five spoons together. Let your child share them between the plates in any way. Say what you see: 'Two here and three here make five.' Move one spoon and describe the new groups. Include all five on one plate and none on the other.

  3. Our five picture

    You need: Paper and two coloured crayons

    Draw a row of five large circles. Let your child colour some with one colour and the rest with another. Count each part and the whole row. Make another row with a different split. Keep both to compare.

Talk about it

  • How many dots did you notice before counting?
  • If two spoons are here, how many are on the other plate?
  • What stays the same when we move a spoon between the plates?

Words to use

  • five
  • part
  • whole
  • altogether
  • none
  • split

Play

  • Ten-Frame Fill
    Ten frames
  • Make the Number
    Number bonds
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