Hello, careful counter! In this lesson, we will join small groups, take some objects away, and make tiny number stories. You can use fingers, counters, bottle caps, leaves, paper squares, or drawings.
Caregiver: Let the child move real objects while speaking the number sentence aloud. Keep small objects away from the mouth and away from younger children.
This original guide follows Chapter 5, How Many?, from NCERT’s Joyful Mathematics for Class 1. The explanations, examples, activity, and practice questions here are newly written for PrincipalSaab and do not copy textbook exercises or pictures.
Words to Know
add
join groups to find how many altogether
3 and 2 make 5
subtract
take away and find how many are left
7 take away 2 leaves 5
count on
start from a number and count more
5, then 6, 7, 8
altogether
the total after groups are joined
4 pencils and 1 pencil are 5 pencils altogether
left
what remains after taking away
6 birds, 2 fly away, 4 are left
number story
a small story that can be shown with numbers
2 apples and 3 apples make 5 apples
Put 9 safe counters on a table and cover some with a cup. Show the uncovered counters and ask, “How many are hiding?” Then lift the cup and check together. Use only large, safe objects. (5-10 min)
Your Learning Plan
- Join two small groups and count the total.
- Count on from the bigger group instead of starting again.
- Take away objects and count what is left.
- Use counting on to find a missing part.
- Tell one short number story in your own words.
1. Join Two Groups
When we put two groups together, we add. If one group has 3 beads and another group has 2 beads, we can push them together and count the whole group. The whole group has 5 beads.
At first, move the objects with your hands. Touching and moving helps your eyes and mind agree on the answer. Then say the sentence slowly: “3 and 2 make 5.”
The order does not change the total for these small joining sums. 3 and 2 make 5. 2 and 3 also make 5. The groups are just standing in a different order.
Situation: There are 3 red beads and 2 blue beads on a mat.
- Count the red beads: 1, 2, 3.
- Count on with the blue beads: 4, 5.
- Say the whole group together.
Answer: 3 and 2 make 5 beads.
Add means join groups and find how many there are altogether.
2. Count On To Add
Counting on is a quicker way to add. You do not always need to count the first group again. Keep the first number in your mind, then count only the new objects.
For 5 + 3, say “5” first. Then count three steps: 6, 7, 8. The answer is 8. Counting on is easier when you start from the bigger group.
You can count on with fingers too. Say the starting number aloud, then raise one finger for each extra count. Stop when the extra fingers are finished.
Situation: There are 5 shells in one cup and 3 shells in another cup.
- Start with the bigger group: 5.
- Count on 3 more: 6, 7, 8.
- Stop after three counts.
Answer: 5 + 3 = 8 shells.
For a joining sum, begin with the bigger number. It makes the counting shorter.
3. Take Away To Subtract
Subtract means take away and find how many are left. If you have 7 grapes and eat 2, the group becomes smaller. Count the remaining grapes to know the answer.
Use a clear action. Move the taken-away objects to one side. Then count only the objects that stayed. This keeps the answer neat.
Subtraction can also happen in stories: birds fly away, crayons are put back, blocks fall from a tower, or children leave a line. The important question is always, “How many are left?”
Situation: A plate has 7 grapes. 2 grapes are eaten.
- Start with 7 grapes.
- Take away 2 grapes.
- Count the grapes still on the plate: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Answer: 7 – 2 = 5 grapes are left.
Do not count the objects that were taken away when the question asks how many are left.
4. Find a Missing Part
Sometimes we know the starting number and the final number, but one part is missing. For example, “4 and how many more make 9?”
Counting on helps. Start at 4 and count until 9: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. You counted 5 steps, so the missing part is 5.
A row of boxes also helps. Fill 4 boxes first. Keep filling boxes until there are 9 filled boxes. The new boxes you filled show the missing part.
Situation: A child has 4 stickers and wants 9 stickers.
- Start at 4.
- Count up to 9: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- Five numbers were counted on.
Answer: 4 and 5 more make 9.
If a number story still feels tricky, use our Ask a Doubt page for another explanation.
5. Tell Number Stories
A number story uses everyday objects and an action. A joining story might say, “There are 6 pencils. 1 more pencil is added.” A take-away story might say, “There are 6 pencils. 1 pencil is removed.”
Listen for the action word. Words like more, added, joined, came, or put together often tell us to add. Words like went away, eaten, removed, used, or left often tell us to subtract.
Draw a quick picture when the story feels confusing. A small drawing of dots is enough. It does not need to be a perfect picture.
Situation: Two children put pencils in one box. One child puts 6 pencils. The other puts 1 pencil.
- Write the first group: 6.
- Write the second group: 1.
- Join them: 6 + 1.
Answer: 6 + 1 = 7 pencils.
Practice Time
Try each prompt before opening the answer. You may move objects, point, draw, speak, or write.
Practice 1. 2 buttons and 4 more buttons make how many buttons?
Answer: 6 buttons.
Practice 2. Start at 6 and count on 2 more. Where do you stop?
Answer: 8.
Practice 3. 8 mango slices are on a plate. 3 are eaten. How many remain?
Answer: 5 slices.
Practice 4. Fill in: 5 + __ = 9.
Answer: 4.
Practice 5. Fill in: 7 – 1 = __.
Answer: 6.
Practice 6. Which story matches 3 + 5: taking away 5, or joining 3 and 5?
Answer: Joining 3 and 5.
Practice 7. Draw 4 circles. Draw 3 more circles. How many circles are there now?
Answer: 7 circles.
Practice 8. A shelf has 9 books. 4 books are moved to a table. How many books stay on the shelf?
Answer: 5 books.
Small Number Win: Tell one addition story and one subtraction story using toys or counters today.
Continue Learning
- Ask a study question
- Explore Class 1 Mathematics guides
- Browse PrincipalSaab Study Notes
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