Learning to count is one of the key numeracy skills students need to mastery as quick as possible. It lays the foundation for every skill going forward. It helps students understand how numbers relate to one another and eventually leads to the basic mathematical operations of addition and subtraction. We start by working on individual counts from one to ten, this progress to finding the value of sets, and eventually adding or subtracting those sets. It all starts with counting forward (adding) and then counting backward (subtraction). Once students see meaning for this skill in their life, they pick it up quick. I often find that students are a little bit motivated with counting, but once counting money comes along, they all become hyper motivated. This is something that you may find with your students as well. I cannot tell you how helpful having a school store is. If your school has one, incorporate it in your curriculum, you will not regret it. These fun counting file folder games can help your students get off to a good start with this skill and lay a solid foundation to build upon.

Your students will go from sour to sweet on counting with this fun lemon seed counting game! Print and cut out each picture (as always, we recommend laminating them so they will last longer), then have the students match the picture of the seeds with the correct number card. Can be placed in a folder or used as a tabletop activity for individual students, or mounted on a bulletin board for team play. Five pages in all. Suggestion: Once they’ve mastered the pictures, make lemonade for the class and have them count real seeds!