Free Foundation counting worksheets
6 free printable Foundation counting worksheets for Australian classrooms, counting and missing numbers. Every answer key is computed in code from the exact questions on the page, so the answers are never wrong. Pick a set below to print or save as a PDF, or make your own. There is no login, and Pro unlocks the printable answer key and removes the watermark.
What the Australian Curriculum asks for in Foundation counting
The Version 9.0 Mathematics content descriptions mapped to this topic, in plain English. Open one for the full breakdown, a teaching guide and every matching worksheet.
- AC9MFN01 · Name and order numbers to 20Say, show and put in order numbers from zero to at least twenty, using real and on-screen materials and numerals.
- AC9MFN02 · Subitise small collectionsInstantly recognise and name how many objects are in a small collection of up to five, without counting one by one.
- AC9MFN03 · Count and compare collections to 20Count to find how many are in collections of at least twenty, compare them, and explain or show the reasoning behind which has more or fewer.
- AC9MFN04 · Part-part-whole to 10Split and join collections of up to ten using part-part-whole thinking and subitising, naming the parts that make the whole.
- AC9MFN06 · Equal sharing and groupingUse materials with counting or subitising to act out practical situations involving sharing fairly and making equal groups.
Content descriptions are paraphrased in our own words from the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0, © ACARA, licensed CC BY 4.0.
What is counting?
Counting is saying number names in order and matching one number to each object to find how many there are.
How to teach it
Count real objects out loud, touching each one once, then match the count to the written numeral. Practise counting on from a number, not always from one.
Worked example
Common mistake
Skipping or double-counting objects (weak one-to-one correspondence), and thinking the last number said is just a label rather than the total.
What's inside
- 6, 7, 8, ___, 10
- 10, ___, 12, 13, 14
- 5, 6, 7, ___, 9
- 0, ___, 2, 3, 4
- 0, ___, 2, 3, 4
- 15, ___, 17, 18, 19
Sample questions. Each printable set below has fresh numbers; its printable answer key is available with Pro.
Foundation counting worksheet sets
All counting worksheets →Sets A-F are the same worksheet with different questions - print any (or all) for fresh practice.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Foundation counting worksheets free?
Yes. Every worksheet on ChalkBee is free to view and print or save as a PDF, with no login required, and the answer key is free too. Pro removes the watermark and adds differentiated sets, worksheet packs and unlimited custom generation.
Do the worksheets have answer keys?
Yes, free, on every sheet. The answers are computed in code from the exact questions on the page, and the key prints on a page of its own so the student sheet stays clean.
Which Australian Curriculum codes does this cover?
These counting worksheets sit alongside the Version 9.0 Mathematics content descriptions AC9MFN01, AC9MFN02, AC9MFN03, AC9MFN04 and AC9MFN06 for Foundation. Each code links to a page with a plain-English summary you can paste into a planning document.
How was the Foundation level chosen?
The worksheets use Australian year-level naming and Australian English spelling, matched to an age-equivalent level in the library. There are 6 printable sets on this page, with dollars and cents for money and metric units for measurement.
How do I print or download them?
Open any set, then use your browser's print option to print it or to save it as a PDF. The pages are laid out to print cleanly on standard letter or A4 paper.