Sequences – count up and down by 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10

Key notes:

1️⃣ What is a sequence?

  • A sequence is a list of numbers in a special order.
  • Numbers can go up (increasing) or down (decreasing).
  • Example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ⬆️
  • Example: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ⬇️

2️⃣ Counting Up

Counting up means going higher.

Count up by:

  • 1️⃣ → 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…
  • 2️⃣ → 2, 4, 6, 8, 10…
  • 3️⃣ → 3, 6, 9, 12…
  • 5️⃣ → 5, 10, 15, 20…
  • 🔟 → 10, 20, 30, 40…

Tip: Use your fingers 👆👆 or blocks 🟦 to help count.

3️⃣ Counting Down

Counting down means going lower.

Count down by:

  • 1️⃣ → 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
  • 2️⃣ → 10, 8, 6, 4, 2…
  • 3️⃣ → 12, 9, 6, 3…
  • 5️⃣ → 20, 15, 10, 5…
  • 🔟 → 50, 40, 30, 20…

4️⃣ Fun Tips 🎨

  • Use colors to highlight each step.
  • Make a number ladder 🪜 on paper to jump up or down.
  • Clap 👏 or jump 🦘 each time you say the next number.
  • Play “fill the missing number” games: 2, __, 6, __, 10…

5️⃣ Remember 💡

  • Counting up → numbers get bigger 🔝
  • Counting down → numbers get smaller 🔽
  • Counting can be by 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 ✅

Learn with an example

✈️Type the missing number in this sequence:

93,_______, 99, 102, 105, 108

  • First, look for a pattern. Notice how each number is 3 more than the previous number:
  • 93, __, 99, 102, 105, 108
  • To make the pattern complete, the number 96 must go in the blank space.

✈️Type the missing number in this sequence:

107, 108, 109,____, 111, 112, 113

  • First, look for a pattern. Notice how each number is 1 more than the previous number:
  • 107, 108, 109, __, 111, 112, 113
  • To make the pattern complete, the number 110 must go in the blank space.

✈️Type the missing number in this sequence:

60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110,_____

  • First, look for a pattern. Notice how each number is 10 more than the previous number:
  • 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, __
  • To make the pattern complete, the number 120 must go in the blank space.

Let’s practice!