Skip counting is often called counting by 2s or by 5s or by 10s or by 100s. Skip counting really helps with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It is also used a lot for counting things – counting pairs of gloves, groups of five, money, boxes with 100 cans in each box – the list goes on!
How to skip count
To skip count you add the same number over and over.
You can start at any number. When you count normally (like 1,2,3,4,5,6) you add 1 to get the next number. To count by 2s, you add 2 to get the next number.
You can find skip counting worksheets here to help practice. You can also find printable number lines here that will help with skip counting.
Counting by twos
The example below shows how to count forward by twos starting from 10.
Here a more examples of counting by two. Look for patterns. Patterns help with skip counting.
| 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 |
Can you see a pattern? All the numbers are even numbers.
| 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 |
Can you see a pattern? All the numbers are odd numbers.
Two more examples of counting by twos
You can find skip counting worksheets here to help practice. You can also find printable number lines here that will help with skip counting.
Counting by fives
We count by fives quite often; counting money and telling the time are two examples. The picture below shows how to count forward by fives starting from 30.
Here a more examples of counting by five. Look for patterns.
| 42 | 47 | 52 | 57 | 62 |
Can you see a pattern? The digit in the one’s place is either a two or a seven .
| 303 | 308 | 313 | 318 | 323 |
Can you see a pattern? The digit in the one’s place is either a three or an eight .
Two more examples of counting by fives
Counting by tens
The two examples below show counting by tens. Look at the numbers. There is always a pattern.
Counting by hundreds
The three examples below show counting by hundreds. The patterns in all three are the same; the number in the hundreds place goes up by one each time.
You’ll get skip counting worksheets here and you’ll find printable number lines. Both will help with skip counting.
