One More, One Less

Step 1: Let's Learn

Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.

Watch the idea first — 50 seconds. Then read on, and try it yourself in the next step.

One more than a number is just the next number you say.

Hop along the path

On a number path, one more is one square forward. One less is one square back.

You do not go back to 1. You already know where you are.

One step, not a new count

You are standing on 7. One more: step forward once. You are on 8. One less: step back once. You are on 6. You never went back to 1. Seven has six below it and eight above it. You can go either way.

Step 2: Try It Yourself

Hop one square and say the number.

Say the answer first. Then tap One more or One less to check.

Marker

The same number as a heap rather than a distance.

How many4

6 more would make 10.

Counters

Step 3: In Real Life

Bus stops

You get on at stop 4. The next stop is 5. One more. Going back, it is 3. One less.

Step 4: Watch an Example

Watch a hop, then predict the next.

Watch Leo Hop

Leo has the marker on 7. He wants one more.

Step 1
He does not start at 1. He starts where the marker is: 7.

Step 5: Your Turn

Practice makes it stick.

Building a Tower

Problem 1 of 1

Leo has a tower of 6 blocks. He adds 1 more. How tall is it now?

Quick Hops

Answer from where you are. Do not count from one.

1 of 3

What is one more than 8?

2 of 3

What is one less than 5?

3 of 3

What is one more than 9?

Move the Marker

Build it, then check.

Put the marker on 4.

Move the marker.

Where you are

Step 6: Quick Check

Show what you know.

Question 1 of 2

What is one more than 4?

Question 2 of 2

What is one less than 7?

What You Learned

One more is the next number.
One less is the number before.
You do not need to count from one.

For the grown-up

Counting and knowing how many are different skills. A child can recite to twenty and still recount a row of six every time they are asked, because the last number said has not yet become the answer to "how many".

Watch for recounting. If they count a group, are asked how many, and start again from one, the link has not formed yet. It is extremely common at this age and is not a memory problem.

When it happens, count together slowly and then close your hand over the group and ask again. Hiding the objects is what forces the number to stand in for them.

Why it is the next number — Adding one object moves you one step along the counting words. Those are the same move, which is why you never need to recount.

Every number sits between two — Seven has six below and eight above. Knowing both neighbors means you can move either way without starting over.