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Maths Adventures

Dinosaur maths quest: counting

A story-led junior maths adventure using fossils, footprints and giant timelines to count objects, compare amounts and spot missing numbers.

Quick answer

You can count dinosaurs and their footprints, fossils, and bones to solve maths puzzles and discover secrets in a dinosaur adventure!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count objects in a story, compare how many there are, and find missing numbers in a dinosaur timeline. Success signs:
  • You can count up to 20 dinosaurs in a picture
  • You can say which group has more or fewer dinosaurs
  • You can find the missing number in a dinosaur footprints sequence
  • You can use a timeline to count years in a dinosaur story

Why this matters

Counting is the first step in maths, and it helps you solve puzzles, understand how many things you have, and make discoveries. In a dinosaur adventure, counting helps you find fossils, count footprints, and solve mysteries. This skill helps you in school, when you play games, and when you go on adventures with friends. You'll use counting to know how many cookies you have, how many steps you take, or how many dinosaurs are in your collection.

How it works

Counting is simple: you look at each thing one by one and say a number. You start with one, then two, then three, and so on. When you count, you touch or move each object so you don't count the same one twice. You can count dinosaurs, footprints, bones, or anything you see. When you count, you can also compare how many things there are. If you have 5 dinosaurs and your friend has 3, you have more dinosaurs. You can also find missing numbers in a sequence. For example, if you see footprints 1, 2, 4, 5, you know 3 is missing.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are on a dinosaur quest and find some footprints. You see these footprints in a row:
  • Footprint 1
  • Footprint 2
  • Footprint 3
  • Footprint 4
  • Footprint 5
You count them one by one and say: “One, two, three, four, five.” So there are 5 footprints. Now, you find a fossil and see it has 3 bones. You count the bones:
  • Bone 1
  • Bone 2
  • Bone 3
You say: “One, two, three.” So there are 3 bones. You also find a cave with 7 dinosaur eggs. You count them:
  • Egg 1
  • Egg 2
  • Egg 3
  • Egg 4
  • Egg 5
  • Egg 6
  • Egg 7
You say: “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.” So there are 7 eggs. Now, you see a timeline with these numbers:
  • Year 1000
  • Year 1050
  • Year 1100
  • Year 1150
  • Year 1200
You count the years and see that 1100 is missing. So, you need to fill in the missing number.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Dinosaur Footprint Hunt You are on a mission to find all the footprints of a giant dinosaur. You start with 3 footprints and find 2 more. How many footprints do you have now? 4th time: ? footprints You walk 5 steps to the first footprint, then 3 more steps to the second footprint. How many steps did you take in total? 5th time: ? steps You see 4 dinosaur bones. You find 2 more bones. How many bones do you have now? 6th time: ? bones You find a timeline with these years:
  • Year 1000
  • Year 1025
  • Year 1050
  • Year 1075
  • Year 1100
What is the missing year? 7th time: ? year You find a fossil with 6 pieces of bone. You count them carefully. How many pieces do you have? 8th time: ? pieces

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Counting the same footprint twice or missing one.
    Why it happens: You might get distracted or not move each footprint as you count.
    Fix: Touch or move each footprint as you count it.
  • Mistake: Thinking 10 dinosaurs are more than 7 dinosaurs.
    Why it happens: You might not know which number is bigger.
    Fix: Use your fingers or draw pictures to compare the numbers.
  • Mistake: Not knowing which number comes next in a sequence.
    Why it happens: You might forget the order of numbers.
    Fix: Practice counting forward and backward with numbers up to 20.
  • Mistake: Confusing "more" and "less".
    Why it happens: You might not understand the words.
    Fix: Practice with objects and say "more" when there are more and "less" when there are fewer.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Counting objects together like toys, steps, or snacks
  • Using a number line to help them see the order of numbers
  • Playing games like “Find 5 things” or “Count to 20”
  • Practising comparing numbers with everyday items, like 3 apples and 5 oranges
  • Encouraging your child to say the numbers out loud when counting
Remember, it’s okay if your child makes mistakes. They are learning! Don’t worry if they count slowly or get confused. Keep it fun and keep practising. You can also make counting part of daily life, like counting how many plates are on the table or how many steps you take.

Practice questions

  1. You see 6 dinosaur eggs. How many eggs are there?
  2. You find 4 bones. How many bones do you have?
  3. You count 7 footprints. How many footprints are there?
  4. You see 2 fossils. How many fossils do you have?
  5. You find 9 dinosaur toys. How many toys are there?
  6. You count 5 bones. How many bones are there?
  7. You see 8 eggs. How many eggs are there?
  8. You count 3 footprints. How many footprints are there?
  9. You see 10 bones. How many bones are there?
  10. You find 12 dinosaur toys. How many toys are there?
Answers:
  1. 6 eggs
  2. 4 bones
  3. 7 footprints
  4. 2 fossils
  5. 9 dinosaur toys
  6. 5 bones
  7. 8 eggs
  8. 3 footprints
  9. 10 bones
  10. 12 dinosaur toys

FAQ

How do I know if I counted correctly?

Count each object once and say the number out loud. If you touch or move each object, you are less likely to miss one or count twice.

What if I lose count while counting?

If you lose count, start again from one. You can also use your fingers or draw pictures to help you keep track.

Can I count anything?

Yes! You can count dinosaurs, footprints, bones, eggs, toys, or even your steps. Anything you can see and touch can be counted.

How can I practice counting at home?

Count things around your house like toys, plates, or steps. You can also count backwards from 10 to 1 or count by 2s or 5s to make it more fun.

Why is counting important?

Counting helps you know how many things you have, solve puzzles, and understand numbers. It is the first step to learning more maths like adding and subtracting.