Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Count the Animals
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Count the Animals is a free printable counting worksheet from the Mini Minds Hub. Children count the animals they see, write each answer in a box, and complete a count and circle task. It needs only a pencil and suits young children who are building early number skills.
The Mini Minds Hub is the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company. Print the sheet, sit beside your child and let them count at their own pace. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children look at animals and count how many there are. They write the number in the box. The sheet also has a count and circle task, which children complete by following the instruction on the page. Read the instructions aloud if your child is not yet a confident reader. Encourage them to point carefully and say each number as they go. The focus is on accurate counting and clear number writing.
What this sheet helps children practise
Counting objects
Children say number names in order while matching one number to each animal. This is the base for all later number work.
Knowing the total
The last number said tells you how many there are. Children learn that the answer belongs to the whole group.
Writing numerals
Writing the answer in a box gives children real practice at forming digits clearly and the right way round.
Following instructions
The sheet asks children to count, write and circle. Reading or listening to each instruction, then doing it, is a useful habit.
Why counting matters so much
Counting looks simple, but it is made of several skills. A child must know the number names in order, touch or point to each object once, and understand that the last number said tells them how many. Children often learn the number names before they can match them neatly to objects, so careful practice really helps.
Animals are a good choice for counting because children enjoy them and can name them easily. A friendly picture holds attention and makes the task feel like a game. Counting pictures is also a step towards counting things in real life, such as toys, cutlery or pets, and later towards adding and taking away.
Skills and curriculum link
- Counting objects
- Number names in order
- Writing numerals
- Careful pointing
- Following instructions
Ideas that help children count well
- One number for each objectEach animal gets one touch and one number word. Pointing or touching stops children from skipping animals or counting some twice.
- Number names in a fixed orderThe words always go one, two, three and so on. Singing counting rhymes and songs helps children remember the order.
- The last number is the totalWhen a child finishes, the last number they said tells how many there are. Ask, "So how many altogether?" to bring this out.
- Order does not change the totalA group has the same amount whether you count from the left, the right or the top. Counting a group twice in a different order shows this.
Key words
- CountSay the numbers in order while pointing to each thing, to find out how many.
- NumberA word or symbol that tells you how many, such as 4 or 7.
- TotalHow many there are altogether.
- GroupA set of things that belong together.
- CircleTo draw a ring around something.
- NumeralThe written symbol for a number, such as 5.
How to use it
- Print the sheet and give your child a pencil. Find a quiet spot with a flat table.
- Read the instructions aloud together. Check your child knows they should count the animals and write the answer in the box.
- Ask them to point to each animal as they count. Let them say the numbers out loud.
- Look at the number they have written. Ask, "How did you count them?" and check the answer by counting together again.
- Do the count and circle task by following the instruction on the page. Come back another day to repeat any parts that felt tricky.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let your child touch each animal with a finger or counter as they count. A small piece of paper can cover animals already counted. Say the numbers together, slowly. Try a few at a time, take a break, then return to the rest.
To stretch confident children
Draw a small group of animals of your own, then count them and write the number beside them. Swap with a friend or grown up and check each other's counting. Try making a group that is one more or one less.
Make it a game
Put a pile of toy animals in the middle. Take turns to grab a handful, count them aloud and say the number. The other player checks by counting again. Score a point for each correct count.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child counts one animal twice or misses one out.
Try thisTouch each animal once as you count. Cover or tick each one as it is counted, or move toy animals aside as you go.
Watch forA child says the numbers faster than they point.
Try thisSlow down. Say one number for each touch and use a steady beat, like a clap, to keep the words and the pointing together.
Watch forA child counts correctly but writes the number backwards.
Try thisPraise the counting first. Then show the digit with a finger traced in the air or in sand, and let them try again.
Talk about it
- Which animal is your favourite on the sheet? Why?
- How did you keep track of the ones you had counted?
- Can you count them again starting from a different animal? Do you get the same answer?
- Where else do we count things at home?
- If one more animal joined the group, how many would there be?
- Can you find a group with more animals than another? How can you tell?
Take it off the page
Toy animal count
Gather soft toys or toy animals and count them into groups. Ask your child to say how many are in each group.
Nature count
Go for a walk and count birds, trees, puddles or cars. Say the numbers aloud and tell someone at home the total.
Counting songs
Sing counting rhymes and songs with actions. Use your fingers to show each number as you sing.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first few and then let them lead. Keep it relaxed. Praise careful pointing and good effort, not only correct answers. Stop when they lose interest and try again another day.
Teachers
Use it as an independent task, a plenary after counting work, or a quick check of one to one counting. Watch how children keep track, as that shows who needs more hands on practice with objects.
Home educators
The sheet fits easily into a counting topic or a daily maths routine. Pair it with real objects around the house. Repeat it as often as you like, since confident counting grows through regular, short practice.
Where counting leads next
Before this sheet, children usually learn number names in order, sing counting songs and count small groups of real objects. They also begin to recognise small amounts at a glance.
After this, children can count larger groups, compare which group has more or fewer, and begin to add and take away. In the National Curriculum for England, this sits within the number and place value strand, and it supports early addition and subtraction.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Who is Count the Animals for?
It is for young children who are learning to count objects and write numbers. It works well for early years and the start of primary school. Adjust the support to suit your child, and read the instructions aloud if needed.
- Do I need anything except the printed sheet?
You need only a pencil. A rubber is useful for corrections. Toy animals or counters are optional extras that help children who find it hard to keep track while counting.
- How long should my child spend on it?
There is no set time. Let your child work at their own pace and stop when they lose focus. You can do part of the sheet now and the rest another day.
- What if my child counts a different number from mine?
Count again together, slowly, touching each animal once. Recounting is a good habit. Ask your child to show you how they counted, as this often shows where a miscount happened.
- Does my child need to write the numbers themselves?
Yes, writing the number in the box is part of the task. If digits are hard to form, trace them first in the air or on a tray of sand, then write them.
- Can I use it with a group of children?
Yes. Each child can do their own copy, then compare counts in pairs. Talking through how they counted helps children learn from each other and spot any mistakes.
- Is the sheet free to print?
Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. Print as many copies as you need for home or the classroom, in black and white or colour.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.