Place Value within 50 - Count in 5s - Planning

In a Year 1 mathematics lesson, the aim is to teach children the concept of counting in multiples of 5. This lesson is designed to help students understand the efficiency of counting in 5s and to recognise patterns within the number system up to 50. The lesson starts with a brief recap of previous learning, followed by a series of practical activities. First, children are asked to count items in groups of 5, which encourages them to observe that many things naturally occur in or can be grouped into fives, making it a useful counting method. The lesson highlights that counting by 5s allows for quicker enumeration compared to counting by 1s.

During the second activity, the children use their fingers and a number line to count in 5s, reinforcing their understanding through visual and kinesthetic learning. They then engage in a collaborative exercise, pairing up to practice counting together. This activity is extended into a circle game where children count in 1s and stand up when they reach multiples of 5, adding a physical and fun element to the learning process. The teacher introduces a dynamic aspect by switching the counting direction. The final activity involves examining a 50 square grid, where children discuss the patterns they notice, particularly focusing on the ending digits of multiples of 5. The lesson concludes with a reflective 'Give me five' exercise, where children articulate what they've learned, the skills they've used, any challenges faced, the support that aided them, and what they promise to remember from the day's lesson.