Why are the pictures scattered?

In a neat row children can spot how many without counting. Scattered pictures make them count one by one, touching each picture once, which is the skill these sheets practise.

Which is easier, write or circle?

Circling the right number is easier: children only need to recognise the numeral. Writing it asks them to form the numeral too. Start with circling, then move to writing.

Can every child get a different sheet?

Yes. Choose 5, 10 or 25 versions and every sheet has different pictures and numbers, each with its own answer key.

Do the pictures print in colour?

Yes, or choose Ink saver to print them as outlines children can colour in after counting.

Is Foundation the same as Prep, Kindergarten and Reception?

Yes. Foundation is the national name for the first year of school. It is called Kindergarten in NSW and the ACT, Prep in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, Reception in South Australia, Pre-primary in Western Australia and Transition in the Northern Territory.

Counting Worksheets: Count the Pictures to 5, 10 and 20

Counting is more than saying numbers

Children can often recite numbers long before they can count objects. Counting a scattered group asks them to match one number to one picture, keep track of what they have counted, and know that the last number says how many. These sheets practise all three.

How to use them

Start with counts to 5 and circling the number, then counts to 10, then writing. Counts to 20 suit Foundation and Year 1, when children start to count larger groups.

In the Australian Curriculum

FoundationNaming, representing and ordering numbers including zero to at least 20 (AC9MFN01).
FoundationRecognising collections up to 5 without counting, which the curriculum calls subitising (AC9MFN02).
FoundationCounting collections to at least 20 and comparing them (AC9MFN03).

The Foundation curriculum asks for two different skills: seeing small amounts at a glance, and counting larger ones one by one. These scattered pictures practise counting, so pair them with quick dot card or dice games for subitising.

Counts to 20 match the Foundation range. The curriculum says “at least 20”, so many classes go further by the end of the year, and the hundreds chart and number lines can take over from there.

Summarised in our own words from the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics, Version 9.0 (ACARA).