Skip Count Sheep Dash

Forty sheep had wandered into the far paddock. Spike and Suzy had to bring them home.

"How will we count them all?" asked Little Thunder.

"Counting by ones takes ages," said Suzy. "Let's skip count."

The sheep stood in pairs. Spike pointed. "Two, four, six, eight, ten!"

"That's quicker!" said Little Thunder.

Next, the sheep lined up in fives by the fence. Suzy counted. "Five, ten, fifteen, twenty!"

Then they squeezed through the gate in groups of ten. "Ten, twenty, thirty, forty!" they all cheered.

"Forty sheep, all safe," said Spike.

Little Thunder looked at the gum tree. Three cockatoos sat on each branch. "Can we count those in threes?"

"Three, six, nine, twelve," counted Suzy.

Just then, a sheep ran back out the gate.

"Oh no," said Little Thunder. "Now we have to count backwards!"

"Forty, thirty-nine," laughed Spike. "Easy!"

Suzy guided the runaway sheep back in. "Forty again. Skip counting saves the day!"