Counting Activities for Preschoolers Using Aussie Animals

Counting is more than saying numbers in order. It means matching one number to each object. Children get there by touching and counting real things.

The skills behind counting

• Saying the number names in order.
• Touching one object for each number (one-to-one matching).
• Knowing the last number tells you how many.
• Recognising small groups without counting each one.

Easy counting activities

1. Animal parade: line up toy animals and count them together.
2. Count and move: hop like a kangaroo three times, clap five times.
3. Snack count: count out biscuits shaped like animals.
4. Number hunt: find four things that are green.
5. Counting walk: count letterboxes, birds or trees.
6. Animal bowls: put the right number of pom-poms in each bowl.
7. Dice game: roll the dice and count that many steps.

Tips

• Touch each object as you count so none is missed.
• Move counted objects to one side.
• Start with groups of up to five.
• Ask, How many are there? after counting.

Using the free worksheet

Look at each group of animals, count them, then write or circle the number. Use your finger to touch each one as you count. In Counting with Aussie Animals, children count echidnas, kookaburras, emus and quokkas up to 20.