Hands-On Counting From 1 to 10

Take finger counting to a new level with a fun (and free) activity for teaching counting from 1 to 10. This printable hands and numbers activity template has been designed to allow primary students to get hands-on — literally — as they jump from reciting the numbers 1 to 10 to identifying the numerals and building their understanding of one-to-one correspondence.

This printable worksheet can be used in various ways in your classroom, but we’ve put together one of our favourite activities to get you started — a DIY felt board that will help teach students all about numbers to 10.

Here’s what you need:

• Hands and numbers activity template
• Coloured felt, including one large white piece
• Hook and loop strips
• Coloured beads
• String
• Card
• Hot glue gun

What to do:

1. Stick the white felt onto the card with the hot glue gun. Depending on the size of the board, you may have to use two pieces of felt.
2. Cut out the hands from the Hands and Numbers Template.
3. Use a pen to trace around the hands onto your felt (the colour you choose is up to you, but using different colours to represent the skin of the hands is key to classroom inclusivity).
4. Cut out your the felt hands.
5. Cut out the numbers from the Hands and Numbers Template.
6. Trace your numbers onto different coloured felt.
7. Cut out round pieces of felt just a bit larger than each number, and stick one felt number to each round disc.
8. Glue the hands on the white felt background, but only under the palms so that the fingers can be manipulated by your students.
9. Cut a piece of string, and thread on 10 coloured beads.
10. Use two small white rectangle pieces of felt to glue down the string at either end.
11. Glue a strip of either the hook or loop on the palms of each hand.
12. Then choosing the opposite, cut small squares that can be stuck on the tips of the fingers. It’s best to hot glue these pieces as well to ensure they last longer.
13. Enjoy!

An example of how this template can be used can be seen in the video below.