Number is about knowing how many. Visualising in your head what is going on. That is what we want to encourage.
When you add, you get more. When you take away, you get less. How do we teach that?
Here’s one way.
Get an empty box (or basket or pot) with a lid and five toys that will all fit inside the box.
You both look.
You decide there are zero, not none. Zero.
Say “There are zero toys in the box”’. Then get one of the toys and ask, “How many toys will there be in the box when this one gets in?” (If you’re doing this with a very young child then some sing-song and dancing just make it more fun).
One.
Put the toy in the box.
“Let’s look and see.” Open the box, check it. One toy in the box.
Close the box, pick up another toy. “How many toys will there be in the box when I put this toy in? In it goes!” How many will there be? Maybe they know. Sometimes they’ll just hold up two fingers without saying the number. look in the box.
Yes, two toys in the box.
