Grade 1 Counting Worksheets — Count to 20 and Skip Counting Practice
First grade takes counting from a party trick to a tool: counting collections to 20 quickly and accurately, then skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s as the on-ramp to addition and, later, multiplication. Counting Objects gives consolidation practice with larger groups of shapes — up to 20 on its first two levels and 21 to 30 on Count, then compare, while Skip Counting by 2s, by 5s and by 10s each has a page of its own generating number sequences with blanks to fill. Adjust anything below and the sheet updates instantly — and the link reproduces the identical worksheet for a re-test or a sibling.
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Counting · Grade 1
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Grade 1 · 2 pages · A4More Grade 1 counting skills
Each one generates a different kind of question, with its own three levels and answer key.
- Counting ObjectsCount a row of shapes, one touch per shape, and say how many there are.
- Counting OnStart from a number that is already counted and carry on for the extra shapes.
- Counting SequencesKeep a count of ones going and fill in the numbers that are missing.
- Skip Counting by 2sCount up and down in 2s and fill in the numbers that are missing.
- Skip Counting by 5sCount up and down in 5s and fill in the numbers that are missing.
- Skip Counting by 10sCount up and down in 10s and fill in the numbers that are missing.
- Before, After and BetweenSay which number comes just before, just after, or in between two others.
- Ordering NumbersPut a set of numbers in order, smallest first or largest first.
What each level generates
Grade 1 counting objects — the exact skill behind each difficulty setting, straight from the generator.
- Level 1Choose between two numbers
- Level 2Choose between three numbers
- Level 3Count, then compare
Grade levels follow the progression common to most English-language curricula — not one specific national curriculum. Every level shows exactly what it generates, so you can check the fit with your own program. See the full scope & sequence →
What Grade 1 counting should cover
Most Grade 1 curricula expect students to count and compare collections to 20 fluently early in the year, then extend the verbal count sequence to 100 or 120 and skip count by 2s, 5s and 10s. Skip counting matters beyond number chanting: counting nickels and dimes, reading a clock in five-minute steps, and doubling all lean on it.
Use Counting Objects as a warm-up until group counts are quick and correct, then Counting On to practise carrying on from a number, and open the skip counting pages last. A realistic benchmark: filling the missing numbers in a 2s, 5s or 10s sequence without whisper-counting the numbers in between. If your student still counts every single step aloud, they are pattern-spotting rather than skip counting — more work with pairs and hands (2 socks, 5 fingers) helps before more worksheets do.
Routines that make the sheets stick
A five-minute daily routine beats a weekly marathon: set 8–10 problems with the stepper, one skill per day, rotating through the 2s, 5s and 10s pages across the week. Watch for the common Grade 1 slips — drifting off a count that started on a multiple of the step (3, 5, 7 when the sheet asked for 2, 4, 6), and stalling at the tens crossings like 18 to 20 or 58 to 60. Runs that deliberately start somewhere else are the Start anywhere and fill the gaps level, so check which level the sheet was set to before calling an odd start an error.
Press Shuffle each day for a brand-new set at the same settings, and tick the answer key box so the answers print on a separate page your student never sees. The name field prints their name on the sheet for folders and fridge doors, and never leaves your device; the easy-read font option keeps numerals unambiguous for students who confuse 6 and 9.
Frequently asked questions
▸When do kids learn skip counting?
Typically in Grade 1 for 2s, 5s and 10s, with 10s often arriving first because the pattern is loudest. Most curricula treat fluent skip counting as a Grade 1–2 goal and use it as the bridge into multiplication later.
▸What is the difference between the skills and the difficulty levels?
They are two separate choices. The skill decides what kind of question you get, and each one has its own page: Counting Objects, Counting On, Counting Sequences, Skip Counting by 2s, by 5s or by 10s, Before, After and Between, and Ordering Numbers. The three levels then set how hard that one skill is — on Skip Counting by 5s, for instance, they run Count on in 5s, Start anywhere and fill the gaps, then Count back in 5s. Pick the skill your student needs, start where they are solid, and move up one level at a time.
▸How many questions should a Grade 1 counting sheet have?
8–10 works well for a focused five-to-ten-minute session. Set the exact number with the question-count stepper — short daily sheets build fluency faster than long occasional ones.
▸Can I reuse the same worksheet for a re-test or a whole class?
Yes. The web address stores your exact worksheet, so sharing or bookmarking the link reproduces the identical problems and answer key. Press Shuffle instead when you want fresh problems at the same settings.
▸Is this free, and what paper sizes does it print on?
Completely free — no account, no watermark. Pick A4 or US Letter in the controls and the PDF is laid out for exactly that paper, with the answer key on its own final page if you tick the box.