Skip Counting

Skip counting is counting by numbers other than one. Instead of saying 1, 2, 3, you might say 2, 4, 6. You can skip count by twos, fives, tens, or any number you like. This helps you count big groups of things fast. It also gets you ready to learn multiplication.

Common Ways to Skip Count

The easiest way to skip count is by twos. You start at 2 and add 2 each time. Counting by fives is also simple: 5, 10, 15, 20. Counting by tens is the fastest way to count big numbers. You can even count backwards using skip counting.

Skip Counting and Math

Skip counting is the first step to learning multiplication. When you count by threes, you are really doing 3 times 1, 3 times 2, and so on. It is also useful in real life. You skip count coins, like nickels by fives and dimes by tens. Skip counting helps you solve problems quickly.

Fun Facts

• Counting by tens is how people first learned to count big numbers.
• Skip counting by 100s helps you count all the way to 1,000 fast.
• Jump rope songs often use skip counting.

Did You Know?

Clocks use skip counting by fives to help you read the minutes around the face.