Lesson 1.4 · Counting to 10
The number zero
What if the cookie jar is empty? How many cookies are in it? There is a number for that. It is zero.
Zero means none
When there is nothing to count, the number is zero. We write it 0.
Definition
Zero
Zero means none, or not any. It is written 0.
Here is a nest with 2 eggs: 🥚 🥚
The birds hatch. Now the nest has no eggs. That is 0 eggs.
Zero comes first
Zero comes before one. When you count up from zero, it goes:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Worked example: An empty plate
Sam had 🍩 on his plate. He ate it. How many donuts are on the plate now?
There are none left. The plate has 0 donuts.
Worked example: Which box is empty?
Box A: 🧸 🧸
Box B: (nothing)
Box B has no bears. Box B has 0 bears.
Common mistake
Zero is not "nothing to write." It is a real number! If there are none, write 0. Don't leave it blank.
Practice
A fish bowl has no fish in it. How many fish are in the bowl?
Type a number.
Lily has 🎈. It floats away. How many balloons does Lily have now?
Type a number.
Which basket has 0 apples?
What number comes right after 0?
Type a number.
What number comes right before 1?
Type a number.
A dog has 🦴 🦴 🦴. It eats all of them. How many bones are left?