Tally Time: Counting by 5s in the Woods!

Math Grades 1st Grade 8:45 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Let's explore tallying and skip counting by 5s, just like in the woods! We'll learn how to keep track of things and count faster by using groups of five.

Video Resource

Grade 1: Math Lesson #71 Tallying; Counting by 5's (MATH IN THE WOODS!)

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 8:45
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Tally marks represent counting in groups of five.
  • Skip counting by 5s is a faster way to count.
  • Tallying helps us keep track of quantities.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to create tally marks to represent a given number of objects.
  • Students will be able to skip count by 5s to 60.
  • Students will be able to identify the total number represented by a set of tally marks.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by singing the skip counting song by 5's. Ask students what it means to tally, relating it to keeping score or counting items.
  • Tallying with Objects (10 mins)
    Watch the video segment where Jonathan helps with gathering materials. Discuss how to make a tally mark (four vertical lines and a diagonal line across). Have students gather small objects (pencils, crayons, toys) and practice making tally marks for different quantities.
  • Skip Counting Practice (10 mins)
    Practice skip counting by 5s as a class. Use fingers or objects to visually represent each multiple of 5. Relate skip counting to tally marks (each tally group represents 5).
  • Tally Mark Challenge (10 mins)
    Present different sets of tally marks (drawn on the board or on worksheets) and have students determine the total number each set represents. Include sets with incomplete groups of 5.
  • Wrap-up and Review (5 mins)
    Review the concept of tallying and skip counting. Sing the skip counting song one last time.

Interactive Exercises

  • Outdoor Tally Hunt
    If weather permits, take students outside to collect natural objects (leaves, rocks, twigs). Have them tally the number of each type of object they find.
  • Classroom Tally
    Ask students what their favorite color is. Tally the responses for each color to find out which color is the most popular.

Discussion Questions

  • Why do we put the fifth line across when we make tally marks?
  • How does skip counting by 5s help us count faster?
  • Where might you use tally marks in real life?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Data Representation
  • Skip Counting
  • Visual Organization

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

How many lines do you draw across to finish a tally group?

Correct Answer: 1

Question 2:

When you see a tally group, how many does it stand for?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 3:

What number comes next when counting by 5s: 5, 10, ____?

Correct Answer: 15

Question 4:

Which shows the number 7 in tally marks?

Correct Answer: ||||| ||

Question 5:

If you have 2 groups of tally marks, how many do you have in all?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 6:

What is it called when you count by 5s, like 5, 10, 15?

Correct Answer: Skip Counting

Question 7:

If you have one tally mark group and 2 more lines, how many do you have?

Correct Answer: 7

Question 8:

Counting by 5s, what comes after 20?

Correct Answer: 25

Question 9:

Which of these is NOT part of our skip counting by 5s song?

Correct Answer: 12

Question 10:

What are we doing when we make tally marks?

Correct Answer: Keeping Track

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

We put the fifth line _________ when we make tally marks.

Correct Answer: across

Question 2:

Each tally group has _______ lines in it.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 3:

When we skip count by 5s, we say 5, 10, and then ________.

Correct Answer: 15

Question 4:

Tally marks help us __________ how many things we have.

Correct Answer: count

Question 5:

Two groups of tally marks make a total of _________.

Correct Answer: 10

Question 6:

We are ___________ when we make tally marks.

Correct Answer: tallying

Question 7:

If I have 5 tally mark groups, I have ______.

Correct Answer: 25

Question 8:

Skip counting is a faster way to _________.

Correct Answer: count

Question 9:

After 50 when skip counting by 5s we say _______.

Correct Answer: 55

Question 10:

When you put 4 lines and the one across, that is one _________.

Correct Answer: group

Educational Standards

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.OA.C.5:Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2). 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

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans