3
Counting to 4
Discover Mathematics: Chapter 1
GoalCount 4 things, show 4 with your fingers, and see that moving things does not change how many there are.
New words
four · three and one moregroup · things that are togethercount · say the numbers in order to find how many
Explanation
After three comes four. Four is three and one more. Count four things by touching each one: one, two, three, four. Now spread them out, or put them in two small groups, and count them again. There are still four. Moving things does not change how many there are. A cat has four legs. Show four with four fingers.
Worked examples
Seif has 4 kites: 1, 2, 3, 4. There are 4 kites.
There are 2 cups here and 2 cups there. Count all of them: 1, 2, 3, 4. There are 4 cups.
A cat has 4 legs: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Class activity
Four-legged animals. Look in toys or picture books for animals with four legs, such as a cat, a horse or a donkey. The child counts the legs with a finger and shows 4 fingers each time.
Practice
1
How many rabbits are there?
4
2
Hana has 2 apples on a plate and 2 apples on the table. How many apples does she have in all?
4
3
A chair has 4 legs. Show that number with your fingers.
4 fingers
4
There is 1 pencil in one cup and 3 pencils in another cup. How many pencils are there in all?
4
5
What number comes just before 4?
3