Counting Fun with Zero and Five!

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:48 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's learn about the numbers zero and five with fun counting activities! We'll explore what these numbers mean and how to use them.

Video Resource

Learn Grade 1 - Maths - Introduction to Numbers 0 and 5

KidsClassroom - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs

Duration: 4:48
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • The number zero represents 'nothing' or 'none'.
  • The number five represents a group of five objects.
  • Counting helps us understand how many of something we have.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify and represent the number zero.
  • Students will be able to count and identify groups of five objects.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between zero and five.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by showing a hat, like in the video. Ask: 'What's in the hat?' (Empty). Explain that 'empty' means there are zero things in it. Then, magically produce five objects (e.g., toy cars, blocks). Tell them that there are now five things in the hat. Introduce the numbers 0 and 5.
  • Counting with Fingers (5 mins)
    Show your hand. Count each finger, pointing out that there are five fingers. Then, make a fist. Ask: 'How many fingers are sticking out?' (Zero). Repeat several times.
  • Fruit Counting (10 mins)
    Gather different fruits (apples, oranges, bananas, etc.). Place some of each fruit on a table. Guide students to count each type of fruit, focusing on identifying when there are five of something or zero of something (e.g., 'There are five apples. There are zero grapes.').
  • Worksheet Activity (10 mins)
    Distribute a worksheet with pictures of groups of objects. Some groups should have five objects, some should have zero, and some should have a different number. Have students circle the groups with five objects and put an 'X' on the groups with zero objects.
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the concepts of zero and five. Ask students to give examples of when they see zero and five in their everyday lives.

Interactive Exercises

  • Clapping Game
    Tell students to clap five times, then zero times (stay silent). Repeat several times, varying the instructions.
  • Object Sorting
    Provide a collection of small objects (e.g., buttons, counters). Ask students to make groups of five objects. Discuss what happens if there are not enough objects to make a group of five (e.g., we might have zero groups of five, and some leftover).

Discussion Questions

  • What does the number zero mean?
  • Can you show me five fingers?
  • Can you think of something you have five of?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Number recognition
  • Understanding quantity
  • Problem Solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which number means 'nothing'?

Correct Answer: Zero

Question 2:

How many fingers are on one hand?

Correct Answer: Five

Question 3:

If you have no apples, how many apples do you have?

Correct Answer: Zero

Question 4:

Which group has five?

Correct Answer: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Question 5:

Which group is empty (zero)?

Correct Answer:

Question 6:

If you count up from four, what number comes next?

Correct Answer: Five

Question 7:

Which number looks like this: 0?

Correct Answer: Zero

Question 8:

Which number looks like this: 5?

Correct Answer: Five

Question 9:

I have two hands, how many fingers do I have in total?

Correct Answer: Ten

Question 10:

Which of these has a value?

Correct Answer: All of the Above

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The number that means 'nothing' is ____.

Correct Answer: zero

Question 2:

There are ____ fingers on one hand.

Correct Answer: five

Question 3:

If a box is empty, it has ____ things in it.

Correct Answer: zero

Question 4:

The number after four is ____.

Correct Answer: five

Question 5:

If you see this number 0, you say ____.

Correct Answer: zero

Question 6:

If you see this number 5, you say ____.

Correct Answer: five

Question 7:

An empty plate has ______ cookies

Correct Answer: zero

Question 8:

My hand has _____ fingers on it.

Correct Answer: five

Question 9:

After counting to four, the next number is ______

Correct Answer: five

Question 10:

If there are no cats at home, there are _____ cats

Correct Answer: zero

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.5:Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2). CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.A.1:Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

Teaching Materials

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