Let us practise counting with beads one step at a time. Watch the numbers grow as you move each bead carefully.
On a school abacus, each bead on a rod is worth 1. How many beads do you move up to show the number 3 on one rod?
3 beads
1 bead
2 beads
4 beads
If each bead is worth 1, three beads make the number 3. You count 1, 2, 3 as you move each bead up.
You move 5 beads up on one rod where each bead is worth 1. Which number are you showing now?
5
3
4
6
Five beads with value 1 each add up to 5. You can count them one by one to check the number.
You start with no beads up, then move 1 bead up on a rod. Which number does the abacus show now?
10
0
1
2
Moving one bead worth 1 shows the number 1. Zero means no beads are moved up at all.
On one rod, you move 2 beads up and then 1 more bead up. What total number of beads are now up on that rod?
2 beads
3 beads
4 beads
5 beads
Two beads plus one more bead make three beads. We add 2 and 1 to get 3.
You see 4 beads moved up on a rod. Which counting number from 1 to 5 matches this bead picture?
4
2
3
5
Four beads up match the counting number 4. Each bead stands for one count.
A rod shows 2 beads up. You want the abacus to show 5 on that rod. How many more beads should you move up?
3 more beads
1 more bead
2 more beads
4 more beads
To go from 2 to 5 you need three extra beads. This is because 2 plus 3 equals 5.
There are 3 beads up on a rod. You move 2 beads back down. How many beads stay up now?
2 beads
3 beads
1 bead
0 beads
Three beads minus two beads leave one bead up. Subtracting tells us how many are left.
You move beads and now see 2 beads up on the first rod and no beads up on the second rod. Which number from 1 to 20 are you most likely showing?
2
12
20
10
Two beads up on one rod and none on the next rod match the number 2. The second rod would be used for tens or more numbers later.
You move beads one by one and say the numbers aloud. Which number do you say just before you say 7?
5
8
6
9
When counting forward, 6 comes just before 7. The order is 5, 6, 7, 8 and so on.
While counting beads, you say 8 and then move one more bead up. Which number do you say next?
9
7
10
6
After 8 we say 9 in the counting order. Adding one bead moves us to the next number.
Starter
You are just starting to match beads with numbers, so keep practising these small counts every day.
Solid
You can already count small groups of beads well, and a little more practise will make you faster and more confident.
Expert!
You read bead counts like a pro, and your careful counting shows strong number sense at this level.
