Made for little discoveries

First numbers

Count real things, connect a small group to its number, and notice numbers in everyday life. Join numbered dots to reveal a picture, or let a handful of toys start a conversation.

Find an activityChallenge19 activities

Choose by the skill already learned, not a birthday deadline. Change the starting point whenever useful.

Count your way to a picture

Join numbered dots to reveal a cat, bunny, fox, turtle, dragon or rocket. Try 20, 25 or 30 dots, then color an adventure of your own.

Explore dot-to-dot pictures ↗

First numbers · Challenge 1

Number cards 1–10

Clear number cards from 1 to 10 for matching numerals with small groups of real objects.

2–3 · 3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Count and match 1–10

Count small picture groups and match each total with its numeral, with a straightforward answer key.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 3

Find the partner to make ten

Use ten-frame spaces to find the missing partner that makes ten. Twelve varied examples across three practice pages, with separate answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Join two small groups

Count two visible groups, join them and find how many there are altogether. Twelve varied examples across three practice pages, with separate answers.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Take away with pictures

Remove a stated number from a small group and count what remains. Twelve varied examples across three practice pages, with separate answers.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

More, fewer or the same

Compare two groups by pairing or counting, including a pair with the same amount. Twelve varied examples across three practice pages, with separate answers.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Missing numbers to ten

Use a visible number strip to identify one missing numeral in a short sequence. Twelve varied examples across three practice pages, with separate answers.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Number rods and strips 1–10

Ten cutout number rods with one equal-sized square per unit, plus a labeled 1–10 counting strip.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Printable counters and counting mats

Twenty large cutout counters, two sorting mats and a numbered strip for practical counting together.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Ten-frame counting mats

Count dots in ten-frame examples, then use two empty ten-frames with your own counters.

3–4 · 4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Little number stories within five

Little number stories within five: eight illustrated adding problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 2

Join groups: number stories to ten

Join groups: number stories to ten: eight illustrated adding problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 2

Take-away stories within ten

Take-away stories within ten: eight illustrated taking-away problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 3

Adding stories within twenty

Adding stories within twenty: eight illustrated adding problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 3

Take-away stories within twenty

Take-away stories within twenty: eight illustrated taking-away problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 4

Find the missing part: ten and twenty

Find the missing part: ten and twenty: eight illustrated missing-part problems, space to draw or use counters, and separate worked answers.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 1

Dot-to-dot: Captain Cat and Balloon Bunny

Two original 20-dot adventures to join in number order, then color. Large printable pictures, separate completed guides and a tap-to-join game.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 2

Dot-to-dot: forest fox and garden turtle

Two original 25-dot adventures to join in number order, then color. Large printable pictures, separate completed guides and a tap-to-join game.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

First numbers · Challenge 3

Dot-to-dot: dragon and space rocket

Two original 30-dot adventures to join in number order, then color. Large printable pictures, separate completed guides and a tap-to-join game.

4–5 years · FreeExplore activity

A little guidance before you begin

Do we need to reach ten?

No. Start with one, two and three objects. Let your child move each object while counting; stop when the activity is no longer enjoyable.

Can I use these at home or in a classroom?

Yes. Download and print copies for your household or your own teaching group. The core resources are free, with no registration. Please share the resource link rather than uploading the files elsewhere.

Can I show these without printing?

Picture-card packs have a picture-play view with names or answers to reveal. Stories can be read on screen. Crafts show a finished example to discuss together; print the scene and pieces for the hands-on activity.