Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics · Numbers and CountingNumber Facts to 5
A6.11 A6.5 A6.4About 20 minutes
Learning goals- I can say adding facts to 5 quickly, like 2 and 3 make 5.
- I can use an adding fact to help me take away, like 5 take away 3 is 2.
- I can show number facts with my fingers and with counters.
- I know that + means add, − means take away, and = means makes.
Words to know
number fact
A small math idea we can remember fast, like "4 and 1 make 5".
plus (+)
Add. Put together.
minus (−)
Take away.
equals (=)
Makes. Is the same as.
Hand facts!
Grown-up: read aloud and do it together.
Hold up one hand. How many fingers? 5!
Now fold down 2 fingers. How many are still up? 3.
So 3 and 2 make 5. Your hand is full of number facts!
🔴🔴🔴🔵🔵
3 red and 2 blue make 5.Facts we know by heart
A number fact is a small math idea we can remember. We learn it so well that we know it fast, without counting. It's like knowing a friend's name.
Here are the adding facts that make 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Count the red apples and the green apples. 3 red and 2 green make 5 apples! AI-generated image| Makes | Adding facts |
|---|
| 2 | 1 and 1 · 2 and 0 |
| 3 | 2 and 1 · 1 and 2 · 3 and 0 |
| 4 | 3 and 1 · 1 and 3 · 2 and 2 · 4 and 0 |
| 5 | 4 and 1 · 1 and 4 · 3 and 2 · 2 and 3 · 5 and 0 |
How grown-ups write facts
Grown-ups use special signs to write number facts:
- + means add. We say "plus".
- − means take away. We say "minus".
- = means makes. We say "equals".
So 3 + 2 = 5 says "3 and 2 make 5". And 5 − 2 = 3 says "5 take away 2 is 3".
Worked exampleTurn-around facts
4 and 1 make 5. What do 1 and 4 make?
- Put 4 red counters and 1 blue counter in a row. That's 5.
- Now turn the row around. 1 blue and 4 red.
- We didn't add any or take any away. It's still 5.
1 and 4 make 5 too. If you know one fact, you know its turn-around!
5 is the whole. 3 and 2 are its parts. Put the parts together: 5. Take one part away: the other part is left.Worked exampleUse an adding fact to take away
You know 3 and 2 make 5. So what is 5 take away 2?
- Hold up 5 fingers. That's the whole.
- Fold down 2 fingers. That's one part going away.
- 3 fingers are still up. That's the other part.
- The facts go together: 3 + 2 = 5, 2 + 3 = 5, 5 − 2 = 3, and 5 − 3 = 2.
5 take away 2 is 3. The adding fact helped us!
Worked exampleSnack facts
You have 4 grapes. You eat 1. How many are left?
- Think: 3 and 1 make 4.
- So if 1 goes away, 3 are left.
- Grown-ups write it: 4 − 1 = 3.
Fast, not fussy
At first, your child will use fingers or count. That's great! Over time, with lots of quick games, the facts become automatic. A few minutes a day works better than one long practice.
Writing the signs (+, −, =) is not the goal yet. Saying "3 and 2 make 5" is just as good.
Just for funWhy did the plus sign go to the party?
It loves to add new friends! ➕
Hands-on activityFact games with hands and a cup
You need: your hands, 5 small things (blocks, buttons, cereal), and a cup.
- Finger flash: the grown-up says "2 and 1!" You show 2 fingers and 1 more, and say how many: "3!"
- Hide in the cup: put 5 blocks out. Close your eyes. The grown-up hides some under the cup. Count the blocks you can see. How many are hiding? (If you see 3, then 2 are hiding, because 3 and 2 make 5.)
- Make 4 and make 5: find all the ways to show 4 fingers using two hands. Then do 5.
- Song: sing "Five Little Ducks". Each time one duck doesn't come back, say the fact: "5 take away 1 is 4."
Math talk: "How did you know so fast?"
Safety: watch young children with small items.
Your turn
4. Hold up 5 fingers, fold 1 down: 4 are up.
2. 2 and 2 make 4, so taking 2 away leaves 2.
6Grown-up: point and read it together. 3 + 2 = ?
5. "3 plus 2 equals 5." 3 and 2 make 5.
7You know 4 and 1 make 5. So what is 5 take away 1?
4. Take away the 1 part, and the 4 part is left.
More practice: warm-up
5. Adding zero (none) keeps it the same.
More practice: on your own
4. It is the turn-around of 3 and 1.
2. 3 and 2 make 5, so 5 take away 3 leaves 2.
1. 3 and 1 make 4, so 4 take away 3 leaves 1.
5. It is the turn-around of 3 + 2.
Challenge
1Use 4, 1 and 5. Say all four facts that go together.
4 and 1 make 5. 1 and 4 make 5. 5 take away 1 is 4. 5 take away 4 is 1. (4 + 1 = 5, 1 + 4 = 5, 5 − 1 = 4, 5 − 4 = 1.)
2If 2 + 3 = 5, what is 5 − 2?
3. 5 is the whole. Take away the 2 part, and the 3 part is left.
3Find all the ways to show 4 fingers using two hands.
4 and 0, 3 and 1, 2 and 2, 1 and 3, 0 and 4. Any of these is right. Finding all five is the challenge.
Quiz
5. You know 3 and 2 make 5. So 5 take away 3 is …
Big idea: The Kindergarten Curriculum (2026) expects children to know addition facts to 5 and the related subtraction facts. A fact family like 3 + 2 = 5, 2 + 3 = 5, 5 − 2 = 3, 5 − 3 = 2 shows that adding and taking away are connected: a whole and its two parts.
Common difficulties:
- Counting from 1 every time. That's fine at first. Quick finger games and repetition help the facts become automatic.
- Not seeing that turn-arounds are the same (3 and 1, 1 and 3). Flip a row of counters to show it.
- Mixing up + and −. Say the words: "plus means add, put together", "minus means take away". Writing the signs is optional at this age.
- Zero facts (5 and 0). Talk about "adding none".
How to help: Play finger flash in the car or while waiting in line. Use the hide-in-the-cup game with 4 or 5 objects. Sing counting-down songs. Point out facts at snack time: "You had 5 crackers and ate 2. How many now?"