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Skip count in fives forwards and backwards

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can skip count in fives going forwards and backwards, and notice the pattern in the count.

Key learning points

  1. When counting in fives, each number ends in either 0 or 5
  2. Each time there is an even number of fives, they fit together to makes a ten.
  3. The pattern when counting can be used to help us remember the numbers.

Keywords

  • Fives - We can skip count in 'fives', or the multiples of five.

  • Decade number - These are the multiples of ten which mark the tens boundary where the pattern of counting changes.

Common misconception

When counting in fives, children may revert to the pattern of counting in tens after reciting a decade number.

Use practical equipment such as ten frames and base ten number boards to highlight why the next number in our count could not be a decade number. Explore the pattern in the digits and display these in the environment to promote further discussion.

Teacher tip

Confidence in counting in fives must be developed through frequent practice across the year as it lays the foundation for multiplying by 5 in Year 2. Provide opportunities to sing songs and recall rhymes that aid this and, wherever possible, count real objects grouped in fives.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Jacob is using counters on a tens frame to count in tens. What number does the picture show? There are counters altogether.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 30

Q2.
Order these numbers in the order you would say them when counting forwards in tens.

1 - 30
2 - 40
3 - 50
4 - 60

Q3.
When counting forwards in tens, which of the following is correct?

Correct answer: 30, 40, 50
20, 40, 50
30, 20, 10

Q4.
Order these numbers in the order you would say them when counting backwards in tens.

1 - 50
2 - 40
3 - 30
4 - 20

Q5.
Jacob is counting backwards in tens from 80 What is the next number he will say?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 60
90
50

Q6.
The children are counting backwards in tens. Who is correct?

An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Sam is using counters on a tens frame to count forwards in fives. When she adds five more counters, what is the next number she will say?

An image in a quiz
25
Correct answer: 30
35

Q2.
Jacob is counting forwards in fives. Which number has he missed out? ___

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 35

Q3.
Order the following numbers in the order you would say if counting forwards in fives.

1 - 20
2 - 25
3 - 30
4 - 35

Q4.
Jacob takes away one ‘five’ from those in the picture. What is the amount he will have left? ___

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 25

Q5.
When counting backwards in fives, which of the following is correct?

35, 40, 45, 50
30, 35, 20, 15
Correct answer: 40, 35, 30, 25

Q6.
Order the following numbers in the order you would say when counting backwards in fives.

1 - 45
2 - 40
3 - 35
4 - 30

To help you plan your 1 maths lesson on: Skip count in fives forwards and backwards, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...