Number 5 (Five) for Kids: Counting, Writing and Fun Facts
5 is written in words as five. It means a group of 5 things, like five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. In counting, 5 comes after 4 (four) and before 6 (six). 5 is an odd number.
The number 5, written as "Five"
Number 5 at a Glance
| Number word | five |
|---|---|
| Comes after | 4 (four) |
| Comes before | 6 (six) |
| Odd or even | Odd |
| More needed to make 10 | 5 |
What 5 Looks Like
A ten frame has 10 boxes. Here, 5 of them are filled, so you can see that 5 needs 5 more to make 10.
Counting to 5
Count out loud and touch one object for each number you say: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The last number you say, 5, tells you how many there are altogether.
How to Write the Number 5
- Start at the top. Draw a short straight line down.
- Curve around to make a round belly, ending at the bottom left.
- Lift your pencil and draw a short flag across the top, going right.
The word is spelled F-I-V-E. Practice tracing 5 in the tracing game or on the Number Writing Practice worksheet.
Ways to Make 5
Two smaller numbers can be put together to make 5. These are called number bonds:
- 5 + 0 = 5
- 4 + 1 = 5
- 3 + 2 = 5
Try it with real objects: put 5 blocks in a row and split them into two groups in different ways.
Five in Real Life
- Five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot
- Most starfish have five arms
- A pentagon has five sides
Fun Facts About 5
- Five is exactly half of ten, and two fives make ten.
- Five is an odd number.
- Tally marks are grouped in fives: four lines with a fifth line across them.
Quick Quiz: Number 5
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
What number comes right after 5?
6 (six).
Is 5 odd or even?
Odd. If you split 5 into pairs, one is left over.
If you have 5, how many more do you need to make 10?
5, because 5 + 5 = 10.
🏫 Classroom Activity
Give each child five small counters (buttons, blocks, or beans) and have them arrange and rearrange the group while counting aloud each time — in a line, in a circle, in a pile. Rearranging the same five objects helps kids understand that the count stays the same no matter how they're grouped.
🏠 Homeschool Activity
At snack time, count out exactly five crackers or grapes together before eating. Repeating this at every snack builds real-world number sense far faster than worksheets alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell the number 5?
5 is spelled five.
Is 5 an odd or even number?
5 is odd. If you split 5 into pairs, one is left over.
What comes before and after 5?
4 comes before 5, and 6 comes after it.
How do you write the number 5?
Start at the top. Draw a short straight line down. Curve around to make a round belly, ending at the bottom left. Lift your pencil and draw a short flag across the top, going right.
What numbers add up to 5?
Pairs of numbers that make 5 are 5 + 0, 4 + 1, 3 + 2.
Summary
5 is spelled five and is an odd number. It comes after 4 and before 6. Next, learn the number 6.