Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade R

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Say number names from 1 to 5 (Rote Count).
• Count objects up to 5 (Rational Counting).
• Recognise the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Draw pictures to show a number.
• Compare groups using 'more', 'less', or 'same'.

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on the foundational mathematical concepts of numbers 0 to

5. For Grade R learners in South Africa, this is a critical building block for all future learning in Mathematics. Numbers are not just symbols on a page; they are a part of our everyday lives. Learners encounter numbers when sharing snacks with friends at break time, counting the number of siblings at home, playing games like umgusha (hopscotch) or amagende (marbles), or helping a parent count items from the spaza shop. By mastering the numbers 0-5, learners develop number sense, which is the ability to understand, relate, and connect numbers.

Lesson notes

What is Counting? Counting is more than just saying numbers. There are two important types of counting we will learn.

Rote Counting: This is like singing a song! It's saying the numbers in the correct order: "One, two, three, four, five." We practice this so the number names become familiar. Rational Counting (Counting with Understanding): This is the most important kind of counting. It means we understand that each number word we say matches one object. This is also called one-to-one correspondence. When we count, we touch one object and say "one," touch the next object and say "two," and so on. The last number we say tells us how many objects there are in total. This is called cardinality.

Example: Counting bottle caps from a cooldrink. Place 4 bottle caps in a line. Touch the first bottle cap and say, "One." Touch the second bottle cap and say, "Two." Touch the third bottle cap and say, "Three." Touch the fourth bottle cap and say, "Four." Because 'four' was the last number we said, we know there are four bottle caps in the group. Understanding Our Numbers (0 to 5) 0 (Zero): Zero means 'nothing' or 'none'. It's an important number! If you have 3 sweets and you eat all 3, you have zero sweets left.

Represents: An empty hand, an empty box. 1 (One): Represents a single thing.

Example: You have one nose. There is one sun in the sky.

Represents: Holding up one finger. 2 (Two): Represents a pair of things.

Example: You have two eyes and two ears. A bird has two wings.

Represents: Holding up two fingers. 3 (Three):

Example: A tricycle has three wheels. The South African flag has many colours, but if we look at the 'Y' shape, it has three arms.

Represents: Holding up three fingers. 4 (Four):

Example: A dog or a cat has four legs. A table or a chair usually has four legs.

Represents: Holding up four fingers. 5 (Five):

Example: You have five fingers on one hand and five toes on one foot. The 'Big Five' animals in South Africa are a group of five animals (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo).

Represents: Holding up a whole hand.

Comparing Numbers: More, Less, and Same As Comparing helps us understand which group is bigger or smaller.

More Than: The group that is bigger.