- Definition
Quantity is simply how much of something there is. Understanding it helps your child make sense of numbers and how they relate to each other.
The quantity of five means having five crayons, five fingers, or five dots.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Quantity is like looking at a pile of snacks to see how many you have.
Ask your child: Which pile has more blocks?
Common mix-up: Kids often think counting is just reciting numbers in order, like a song. True quantity is connecting a number name, like 'four,' to a group of four actual things.
Examples
- Seeing that a group of 7 blocks is a larger quantity than a group of 3 blocks.
- Knowing that a '4' on a card means you should grab four crackers.
- Quickly seeing two dots on a dice without having to count them one by one.
quantity is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
