Make Five and Ten

The numbers 5 and 10 are benchmark numbers in Kindergarten and beyond. Once your child is able to count objects using 1:1 correspondence (touch one item and say the next number in the counting sequence), and understandings "cardinality" (can count "how many" items there are), you can help prepare your child for the next steps. Help them discover combinations of objects to "make five". Start with a quantity of objects less than five (i.e. 3 cars, 2 tea cups, 1 raisin, etc.), and ask your child to count them. Next ask how many more do I need to have 5 all together, or some variation of that question. It might help to use a framework that shows how many more are needed. For example, place 1 raisin on a 5 frame, and ask child how many more are needed to make five. Once five is mastered, move on to making 10.