Counting grouped collections | Year 1

01 / LEARN

Understand the idea.

Count one whole group at a time

When all groups have the same number, count one whole group at a time. With pairs, say $2, 4, 6$ as you touch three groups. Each number tells the total so far, including the groups you already counted.

Choose a way that works

Choose a count that matches the group size: fives for groups of five, tens for groups of ten. For another size, add one group at a time or count every object. Keep track of each group so none are counted twice.

02 / WORKED EXAMPLES

See the method in action.

EXAMPLE 01

Count pairs

There are five trays. Each tray has two counters. How many counters altogether?

Worked solution

1
Check the size of each group.
$2 counters per tray$
Every tray has a pair, so each tray adds two counters.
2
Count in twos across all five trays.
$2, 4, 6, 8, 10$
There is one count for each tray.
3
Read the fifth total.
$10 counters$
The last count includes every counter on the five trays.

Answer

10 counters.

EXAMPLE 02

Groups of four

There are three baskets with four blocks in each. How many blocks?

Worked solution

1
Count the first basket.
$4$
The first basket contains four blocks.
2
Add the second basket.
$4 + 4 = 8$
Two baskets together contain eight blocks.
3
Add the third basket.
$8 + 4 = 12$
Including the final four gives twelve blocks in all three baskets.

Answer

12 blocks.

03 / YOUR TURN

Try it yourself.

Check your understanding

There are two packs of ten pencils. How many pencils?

Show answer & reasoning

20 pencils.

Each pack adds ten pencils. Count $10, 20$ for the two packs, giving $20$ pencils altogether.

Keep practising

6 worksheet questions

Open worksheet Worked solutions

Read the questions online

Four pairs of shoes contain how many shoes?
Three bags each hold five counters. Find the total.
Two boxes each hold ten crayons. Find the total.
Four plates each have three grapes. How many grapes?
Lily counts four groups of two as $2, 4, 6$ . What is missing?
Three trays each hold four cups. Draw the groups and label the total.

Read the worked solutions

Four pairs of shoes contain how many shoes?
Count $2, 4, 6, 8$ .
8 shoes.
Three bags each hold five counters. Find the total.
Count $5, 10, 15$ .
15 counters.
Two boxes each hold ten crayons. Find the total.
Count $10, 20$ .
20 crayons.
Four plates each have three grapes. How many grapes?
Count the grapes in each plate: $3, 6, 9, 12$ , or count all twelve.
12 grapes.
Lily counts four groups of two as $2, 4, 6$ . What is missing?
She must say one total for each of the four groups.
The fourth count, 8.
Three trays each hold four cups. Draw the groups and label the total.
4 and 4 make 8; another 4 makes 12.
12 cups.

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Curriculum reference & lesson scope

Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics

Practical Year 1 grouping and equal sharing with whole objects.

Official curriculum source ↗

In this lesson

Understand the idea.

Count one whole group at a time

Choose a way that works

See the method in action.

Count pairs

Check the size of each group.

Count in twos across all five trays.

Read the fifth total.

Groups of four

Count the first basket.

Add the second basket.

Add the third basket.

Try it yourself.

Check your understanding

Keep practising