In this series of count set worksheets will explore natural numbers which are the numbers that we count with. They are referred to as natural because they naturally come about in the world that we observe. In most cases students will be assigned the task of coloring or drawing objects around a number of objects in a set. These activities and lessons are designed to help students practice their counting skills by a combination of counting shapes and following instructions. Specifically, students will color in the correct group of shapes. The worksheet begin on the easier end and get progressively more difficult.
Print Counting Sets Worksheets
Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.
Counting By Color Number Sets
Learn how to count sets of numbers. Color the correct set of shapes for the given value.
Sets of 4
For each, color the group of shapes that equals 4. This also serves as good way to learn to compare sets.
Sets of 2 Worksheet
Color the groups of images that is equal to 2. This is a great way to in mode of pairing things as you need them to go.
Sets of 5 Worksheet
For each, color the group of shapes that equals 5. This flows with the previous worksheet. It is also the next natural progression when we do skip counting, so it is helpful to get them in this habit.
Count Sets Review Worksheet
Follow along with the example, then practice by coloring each group of shapes that is equal top the counting equivalent value of 3.
Pair Sets of 2
Get your coloring tools ready and find the images that are in 2s. You will group 2 items in any direction that you choose. Remember to tell students that the order does not matter, you just need to find 2 objects.
Sets of 3 Lesson
This is a very simple lesson that is something that you may want to send hoem with students if they are absent or having a good deal of difficulty.
Sets of Numbers 2 to 5 Guided Practice
This sheet provides students with a complete lesson on the topic and then offers 2 problems for them to complete. We focus on finding somewhere between 2 to 5 items.
Count 3 Objects Worksheet
Another move to find three objects that are grouped up. You can measure them in any order of your choice.
Why Counting Sets of Objects is Important?
While natural number counting plays an obvious role the progression of math skills, in the real world we rarely have the time available to individually count just about anything. We will often count things in batches or collection to speed up the process and organize ourselves. This makes the process of counting set collection of items easy to document and verify.
This is where we encourage teachers to share the habit of coloring or shading while students count. This is very similar to taking a tally. Every time a student accounts for an object in the group have them color or shade the object this will help you organize yourself as you count. Organizing yourself in math is a great habit to get into. I find that students that have some form of organization when counting carry that skill over to higher levels in math like operations. Students learn quickly that arranging a problem before attempting will increase their chances at success. Over the course of these worksheets students will first start to compare sets of images or objects. They will independently count the number of items in each set and then offer a comparison between the two groups. This leads students towards the concept of number comparison and toward the topic of greater than, less than, and equal. These fun activity sheets will help your elementary students practice their counting skills. Students will identify (color or circle) the group that contains the same number of items as the given prompt.
The Best Way to Teach This Skill
There have been several studies on which method is the most effective to help students break through. While there have been many different techniques researched and tested, the most substantial data shows that the share and pair technique has a solid upside. This is where teachers pair up students and they count in sets and then their partner verifies their counts.
It is always best to start this process by using identical items, so has pennies or same-colored dots. As students experience success, it is always best to have them work on this skill use mixed items that are not identical.
When you are choosing items, it is best to use something that will not be overly distracting. When I began teaching, I had a huge collection of small toy cars. It took me about 2 lessons to learn that these are not good items to help students focus on their counting skills. It is also a good idea to have oversized containers handy to help students easily store these items. Believe me, the easier it is to store the longer life the counting items will have in your classroom environment.