Meaning and Use of Zero for Primary 1

Whole number 0 (Zero)

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. recognize that the symbol 0 stands for nothingness;
2. read the number 0;
3. Write 0,

What is Zero?

Zero is a special number. It tells us when there is nothing left.

Imagine you have a plate with some biscuits. If you eat all the biscuits, what is left on the plate? Nothing! That “nothing” is what the number zero means.

Recognising the Symbol 0

The symbol for zero looks like a round shape, like an egg or a circle. It is written as 0.

When the symbol 0 is seen, it means there are no items, no objects, or no quantity of something.

For example:

1. If a bowl has no soup in it, there are 0 spoons of soup.
2. If a tree has no birds on its branches, there are 0 birds.
3. If a child has no toys in their hand, they have 0 toys.

Observe the image below. It shows a container with nothing inside.

Reading the Number Zero

The number 0 is read as “zero”.

When the symbol 0 is seen, people say “zero”.

For example, if someone asks, “How many seeds are left in the cup?”, and there are none, the answer is, “There are zero seeds left.”

Writing the Number Zero

Writing the number 0 is like drawing a circle or an oval shape. It is important to start from the top and go around.

The procedure for writing the number 0 involves the following steps:

1. Start at the top.
2. Draw a curve going down and to the left.
3. Continue the curve around to the right and up.
4. Join the curve back to the starting point at the top.

Practice writing the number 0 many times. Make sure it is clear and round.

How Zero is Obtained

Zero is obtained when all items are removed from a group. It means that nothing is left.

Consider these situations:

1. Stones in a Bag: Imagine a bag with 4 stones inside. If a person takes out 1 stone, then 3 stones are left. If they take out another stone, 2 stones are left. If they take out one more stone, 1 stone is left. Finally, if they take out the last stone, then there are 0 stones left in the bag.
2. Bottle Covers on a Table: A child has 2 bottle covers on a table. The child picks up 1 bottle cover, then 1 is left. The child picks up the last bottle cover. Now, there are 0 bottle covers on the table.
3. Two Objects Example: A person has two oranges. The person eats one orange. Now, the person has one orange left. Then, the person eats the last orange. How many oranges does the person have now? Zero oranges.

This can be shown with numbers:

$$
2 – 1 = 1
$$
$$
1 – 1 = 0
$$

So, when you start with some objects and remove all of them, you are left with zero.