Learning how to make tally marks is an activity that is appropriate for primary school students. As a tool that remains useful for many years and for many purposes, a tally mark introduces a young pupil to an interesting way to count that is also a fun thing to do. The prepared worksheets usually show pictures of objects or animals that are familiar to the children, so it is easy to get them
. interested in counting the number of them that they see.Some worksheets offer suggestions on activities that may allow the student to practice making tally marks at home or on family vacations. A wise parent may remember to take along a pad of paper and some sharpened pencils so that the children can count the cows that they see if they drive through the country. On a drive through the city, the children may tally how many red cars they see. Creative ways to help children learn to count by using a tally sheet are numerous, and anyone can think of additional ways with a little thought.Web sites offer free worksheets that teachers may use for their students to fill in while they are in class. Great enthusiasm for a project can be generated when the handout materials are interesting and attractive. Making tally marks on a sheet lets a student keep track of something, and it is akin to making a mark in any other endeavor. From the standpoint of record keeping, it introduces a student to the concept of score keeping as well. It is always a matter of interest to see who has the most points and who wins the game.Learning to use tally marks on prepared worksheets gives students an opportunity to learn something new that they see adults do. Getting to do something that adults do is highly motivational for children, and it teaches a new skill at the same time.
