5 (Five)
Number 5 (Five) — Preschool Math Learning
How to use this page
Work through the steps in order — watch, identify, hear the sound, colour, trace, write, then check. Most children finish in 10–15 minutes; some steps can be split across two days.
1 Watch
Start by watching a short video together. Seeing and hearing the number 5 (Five) modelled first gives your child a reference point before any activity begins.
2 Colour
Colouring the number 5 helps your child spend relaxed, hands-on time with its shape while building fine motor control with a crayon or pencil. This page pairs the big numeral with 5 pictures to colour, so your child sees the quantity repeated as they work.
3 Identify
The numeral 5 is often confused in formation — children frequently draw the lower curve going the wrong direction, or forget the top horizontal line entirely. These activities ask your child to circle, find, or match the correct numeral among similar-looking ones.
For more practice, try our Circle the Number worksheets (1–20) or the Find the Path number mazes.
💡 Say it out loud
While your child works through the sheet, say: “5 — Five.” Verbal repetition alongside the worksheet helps your child connect the number, name, and quantity.
4 Connect
Counting five objects — five fingers on one hand is the most natural reference — anchors the quantity 5 firmly for most children. These activities connect the numeral to the quantity it represents by counting real objects and matching the total to the correct number.
For more counting with pictures, see our Number and Picture Counting worksheets.
5 Trace
Trace 5 as a horizontal line at the top, then drop straight down from the left end, then curve right and up to close the shape. Thinking of 5 as having “a hat, a body, and a tummy” helps children remember all three parts.
6 Write Independently
Once tracing feels comfortable, move to writing 5 without the guide. If it feels tricky at first, that’s a normal early stage — steady practice, not correction, is what builds it into muscle memory.
Ready for a full week of writing practice? Number Writing Week 8 practises 5, 2, 3 and 4.
ℹ️ Only do this once 1–5 are solid
Number 5 is an important early counting milestone. Once your child can recognise 5, count five objects, and attempt to write 5, they are ready to move forward. You can revisit 1–5 together during later practice.
7 Check
A short assessment lets you confirm your child recognises, counts to, and writes 5 confidently before moving on. This is designed to be completed after your child has worked through at least 3 of the activities above.
🏆 Celebrate
Number 5 Certificate
Once your child passes the check, print this certificate together. It’s a small moment that makes them want to come back for Number 6.
Click here to submit 3 completed worksheets and get a free printable certificate.
What’s next? Move on to the Number 6 (Six) Learning Path.You can also browse all our free Math worksheets. Or see all Learning Paths for English letters and Urdu haroof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my child forget the top line of the 5?
The curved lower half of 5 is the more visually distinct part, so children often focus there and forget the horizontal top stroke. Describing 5 as having three parts — a hat, a body, and a tummy — helps children remember to include all of them.
Is counting to 5 on fingers a good way to reinforce the numeral?
Yes — since one hand naturally has five fingers, counting on fingers gives your child an immediate, always-available physical reference for what the numeral 5 represents.
At what age should a child start learning number 5?
Identification and counting can start from age 3. Tracing is appropriate once your child can hold a pencil with reasonable control, usually 3.5–4. Independent writing typically follows a few weeks after tracing feels easy.
How many activities does my child need to finish before getting the certificate?
Complete at least 3 activities from this page, then complete the assessment sheet to earn your certificate.