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Skills / Ages 5 to 8 / Math

Name one more

Saying the new how-many when one more thing joins a group, without counting the whole group again, and knowing one more is the next counting number.

Why it matters

The next lesson runs this move backwards: take one away and name one less, on the same box. A child who knows one more is always the next number word can turn it around. Counting on, adding and the teens all grow out of this.

What it looks like when your child can do it

  • Your child has four crackers. You add one. Your child says five without recounting.
  • Asked what is one more than 6, your child says 7.
  • With nine beans in the box of ten holes, your child drops in one more and says ten, the box is full.

How to teach it at the kitchen table

  1. 01

    Count, add one, say the new number

    Your child counts a small group of beans. Add one bean and ask, how many now? Aim for the answer before any recounting.

  2. 02

    One more is the next number

    Say the counting numbers slowly: one, two, three, four, five. One more than four is the next word, five. The number that comes next is always one more.

  3. 03

    Walk a number path

    Write 0 to 10 on paper squares and tape them in a line on the floor, left to right, so they do not slide underfoot. Your child stands on a mark and takes one step forward. The next square is one more.

  4. 04

    Fill the box of ten holes

    Put beans in the box one at a time and say the new how-many each time. Nine beans leave one empty hole. One more fills the box, and a full box is ten.

You will need: Dried beans or crackers (beans are small enough to choke on, so stay at the table) · An egg carton cut to two rows of five · Paper squares marked 0 to 10 and some tape

Try it together

  1. Try 1

    Put three crackers down, then add one. Ask how many now.

    Listen for  Four, said before counting. Counting afterward to check is fine.

  2. Try 2

    Ask, what is one more than 8?

    Listen for  9. If your child is unsure, count up together and stop right after eight.

  3. Try 3

    Put seven beans in the box of ten holes, then drop in one more. Ask how many.

    Listen for  Eight. The top row is full and three holes in the bottom row have beans.

  4. Try 4

    Your child stands on 2 on a number path of paper squares and takes one step forward. Ask which mark they are on.

    Listen for  3. One more than 2 is 3.

Watch for

  • Jumping two instead of one, as in four and one more is six. Slow down and say the counting words out loud from one.

If it is not there yet

  • Back up to counting a group to ten. If the count itself is shaky, the next number will be too.
  • Stay with real objects and small numbers, like two and one more, and let your child recount to check every time.

A few days of this is normal, and it is time well spent. The lesson will still be there, and it will go faster.

Where this skill comes up

  • Zig and Zag Count to Twenty · Lesson 18

    One Less

    Needs it because one less is the reverse move of one more, taught on the same box.