Skill: Recognize groups of 5

A group of 5 means five objects treated as one equal-sized group. To recognize groups of 5, count the objects and separate them into groups of five.

Example: How many groups of 5 are in 17 counters?

1. Start at one end and count out 5 counters:

$$\bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet$$

That is 1 group of 5.

2. Count out 5 more:

$$\bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet$$

Now there are 2 groups of 5.

3. Count out 5 more:

$$\bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet\ \bullet$$

Now there are 3 groups of 5.

4. Count the counters left over. There are 2:

$$\bullet\ \bullet$$

So, 17 counters make 3 complete groups of 5 with 2 left over.

We can write:

$$17 = 5 + 5 + 5 + 2$$

The answer is 3 groups of 5 and 2 left over.