🔢 When we skip count, we count forwards by jumping over some numbers each time, always by the same amount. That jump amount is called the rule. If we skip count by 2s, we say 2, 4, 6, 8, each jump adds 2. If we skip count by 5s, each jump adds 5. If we skip count by 10s, each jump adds 10.
You can spot the rule of a sequence by looking at how the numbers change, or by checking the last digit of each number. When we count by 2s starting from an even number, the last digit goes 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 0, 2, 4 and so on. When we count by 5s, the last digit always ends in 0 or 5. When we count by 10s, the last digit never changes at all, only the tens digit goes up by 1 each time.
Count forwards by 5s starting at 15: 15, 20, 25, 30, 35.
Check the rule: 20 minus 15 is 5, 25 minus 20 is 5, 30 minus 25 is 5. Each jump adds 5, so the rule is add 5.
Look at the last digit: 5, 0, 5, 0, 5. It swaps between 5 and 0, which is exactly what happens when we count by 5s.
Fill in the missing numbers in each sequence. Some blanks are in the middle and some are at the end.
⏪ Skip counting also works backwards. Instead of adding the same amount each time, we subtract it. If the rule going forwards is add 5, the rule going backwards is subtract 5. Backwards sequences get smaller each time, but the jump size stays the same.
A number line is a straight line with numbers marked on it in order. It helps us see skip counting as equal jumps. Each jump on the number line is the same length, because we are always adding or subtracting the same rule. If some numbers on the number line are missing, we can work out what they are by checking the size of the jump between the numbers we can see.
Count backwards by 5s starting at 50: 50, 45, 40, 35, 30.
Check the rule: 50 minus 45 is 5, 45 minus 40 is 5. Each jump subtracts 5, so the rule is subtract 5.
On a number line, each of these jumps would be the same length, five spaces apart.
Each number line below skip counts by a different rule. Write the missing numbers on the dashed lines, then draw a dot on the number named beneath it.
1. This number line counts by 2s. Draw a dot on 14.
2. This number line counts by 5s. Draw a dot on 35.
3. This number line counts by 10s. Draw a dot on 70.
4. What is the rule for the first number line above, the one that counts by 2s? The rule is add .
Complete the table by counting backwards by 5s from 50. Some numbers are already filled in for you.
| Step | Number |
|---|---|
| 1st | 50 |
| 2nd | 45 |
| 3rd | |
| 4th | |
| 5th | 30 |
| 6th | |
| 7th | 20 |
| 8th |
Now count backwards using the rule shown in each pattern. Fill in the missing numbers.
Read each number pattern. Circle the letter next to the rule it follows.
1. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
2. 15, 20, 25, 30
3. 90, 80, 70, 60
4. 11, 13, 15, 17
5. 65, 60, 55, 50
These patterns are trickier. Some go further than you have counted before, and some go all the way back down close to zero. Read carefully before you answer.
4. Ruby packs 6 boxes of eggs. Each box holds 5 eggs. Skip count by 5s to find the total number of eggs. Show your counting, then write the total.
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