Skip counting in 2s, 5s and 10s

Jump instead of stepping — the beginning of the times tables.

The question

Count in 2s up to 10.

The trick

Instead of stepping on every number, jump over one. Say it with a clap on each jump — the rhythm does the remembering.

Worked example

1In 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Clap on each one.
2In 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20. Use one hand per jump.
3In 10s: 10, 20, 30, 40. Use both hands.

So: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

Remember it like this

Counting in 2s is jumping on every second stone across a stream. In 5s it is one whole hand each jump. In 10s, both hands.

In the exam

Do this on stairs, out loud, one jump per step. Movement plus voice fixes a sequence far more firmly than reading it from a page.

Why it works

Skip counting *is* the times tables, learned before the words 'times table' ever appear. A child who can count in 5s already knows the five times table — they just don't know it has a name yet.

Explain this to my childGet the words to teach it, in your language

Try it yourself

0/4 correct

1
Count in 2s: 2, 4, 6, ?
Count in 2s: 2, 4, 6, ?
2
Count in 5s: 5, 10, ?
Count in 5s: 5, 10, ?
3
Count in 10s: 10, 20, 30, ?
Count in 10s: 10, 20, 30, ?
4
Count in 2s: 6, 8, ?
Count in 2s: 6, 8, ?