Can You Count in Twos?

A cookie sheet with pairs of items (socks, gloves, coins, buttons, etc.)

Counting in twos or "skip counting" is very important to develop fluency in calculation, number sense and as the basis of multiplication and division. It helps children to move from calculating or counting by ones to using number facts. They also need to identify a pair as having two matching objects. For a blind child a good range of tactile materials to explore are important, you can also explore eyes, ears, hands, feet etc.

Materials: 
  • Pairs of real objects, such as socks, mittens, coins, buttons, and other tactile objects
Procedure: 

Worksheet about counting in 2's

I adapted this Year 1 (1st grade) worksheet for a student of mine who is blind. I tried to use some everyday objects, as well as different tactile ones. We worked in a group, as well as one to one. We had lots of fun trying on and matching up the socks and mittens. You can bring in lots of valuable vocabulary too. He enjoyed exploring the 2 pence pieces which we later used in the shop! 

Collage of counting in twos