Getting on, getting off · Ages 5–6
How many now?
Does your child say “9” when 2 of 7 passengers get off? They hear two numbers and put the two groups together, which they know well. It’s not necessarily carelessness. This free printable suggests questions instead of corrections, and four plans of the Ten-Seater Bus where you cross out the passengers who get off or color a seat for each one who gets on, then circle the number you find.
Download the printable (PDF, 2 pages)US Letter size. Print single-sided, at 100% (actual size). Black and white is fine.
Page 1, for you
- Why a child may say “9” when 2 of 7 passengers get off.
- The key idea, in a simple diagram: one change at each stop; you act out the scene, then count who is on the bus (7 passengers, 2 get off: 5 are left).
- Three questions to ask instead of correcting.
- Safety: small figures and cars too large to fit in a child’s mouth, and the dish-towel game.
- How to do page 2 together, with no reading needed.
- Notes to read after your child has played out the scene, and a cut-out slip to play again a few days later (8 passengers, 3 get off).
Page 2, for your child
- A page with no text: only the numbers 1 to 10, to circle the answer.
- At the top, the Ten-Seater Bus at a stop and the two actions: cross out a passenger who gets off, color a seat for a passenger who gets on.
- Four plans of the ten-seat bus, with the starting passengers: the adult tells the story out loud, and the picture doesn’t show which way anyone is going.
- For each plan, your child crosses out the ones who get off, or colors the first empty seat for each one who gets on, then circles the number of passengers on the bus.
Our videos for parents
This printable goes with the “How many now?” episode of “Understand the concept,” our video series for parents. Find our videos on Ludip’s YouTube channel.
Visit Ludip’s YouTube channelLudip: Math & Science Stories
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