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Counting in twos
Learner’s Book 1: Unit 9, p. 133
GoalCount sets of pairs in twos, and use this to find a total.
New words
count in twos · say every second number: 2, 4, 6, 8 …pair · two things that go togetheraltogether · the whole amount when you put things together
Explanation
When things come in pairs, we can count them in twos. This is quicker than counting one by one. Say 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Each number is 2 more than the one before. Shoes, gloves and wheels on a bike come in pairs. If you count in twos from 0, you say even numbers. If you count in twos from 1, you say odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.
Worked examples
There are 4 pairs of birds. Count in twos: 2, 4, 6, 8. There are 8 birds altogether.
Each child has 2 hands. 5 children have 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 hands. That is 10 hands.
Count in twos from 1: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. These are all odd numbers.
Class activity
Pairs hunt: find 6 pairs of things around you (shoes, socks, gloves, cups with saucers). Line them up and touch each pair while you count in twos. Then count them one by one. Do you get the same number?
Practice
1
Count in twos. How many fish are there?
10
2
Count in twos. What number goes in the ? square?
8
3
Ravi has 12 socks. How many pairs can he make?
6 pairs (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 is six counts).
4
Count in twos from 1: 1, 3, 5, 7, __. What comes next?
9