Chapter 5: How Many?

Five little children sat in a row. One more came along. How many now? Let's learn the magic of putting things together and taking things away.

What we'll do in this chapter

Add two small numbers , putting together.
Subtract small numbers , taking away.
Use the + sign and the − sign.
Solve tiny "how many" puzzles from real life.

The big idea

When you have 3 pencils and your friend gives you 2 more, you have 3 plus 2 = 5 pencils. That is adding! We write it with a + sign:

3 + 2 = 5

When you have 5 toffees and you eat 2, you have 5 minus 2 = 3 left. That is subtracting! We write it with a − sign:

5 − 2 = 3

Adding makes numbers bigger. Subtracting makes numbers smaller. They are like two friends , one brings things, the other takes some away.

We can use our fingers to help. To add 4 + 3, raise 4 fingers, then raise 3 more, then count them all , 7! Easy.

To take away, we can fold fingers down. Start with 6 fingers up. Fold 2 down. How many are still up? 4! So 6 − 2 = 4.

Let's play!

➕ Toffee Adding

Take 2 toffees in one hand. Take 3 toffees in the other. Now put them all in a bowl. Count , how many in the bowl? You just did 2 + 3!

➖ Bird, Bird, Fly Away

Place 5 small stones on the floor. They are 5 birds. Now "shoo!" , push 2 away. How many birds are left? You did 5 − 2!

✋ Finger Math

Show 4 fingers on one hand and 4 on the other. How many in all? Now hide 3 fingers. How many can you still see?

🪜 Number Steps

Pretend the floor tiles are a number line. Stand on tile 3. Take 4 steps forward , where are you now? (Tile 7! That's 3 + 4.) Now take 2 steps back , where now? (Tile 5! That's 7 − 2.)

A small story

Ria's mother gave her 6 biscuits. Ria gave 2 biscuits to her little brother. How many biscuits did Ria have left? Ria counted on her fingers , 6 take away 2 is 4. Then her brother gave back 1 biscuit because he was full. So Ria had 4 + 1 = 5 biscuits! She shared them with grandmother too.

Quick check

What is 2 + 3?
What is 5 − 1?
You have 4 balloons. One pops! How many are left?
There are 3 ducks in a pond. 4 more come. How many ducks now?
Show 7 + 2 on your fingers. What's the answer?

What did we learn?

Adding (+) means putting things together. It makes numbers bigger.
Subtracting (−) means taking things away. It makes numbers smaller.
Fingers are our best helpers!