Counting before numbers

    Before the invention of written numbers, people used many different ways {#blank#}1{#/blank#} count things.

    At first, people used {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (they) fingers, and even their toes. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, they could only count small numbers in this way.

    After that, they began to make small {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (mark) on sticks and bones. This helped them count {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (big) numbers. They used them to count things {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the days of month, the amount of food and the number of animals they had.

    Then people began to use tokens made from clay {#blank#}7{#/blank#} small stones. This helped them count even bigger numbers. They often put the tokens on pieces of string so that they could carry them around {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (easy). This developed into tools like the abacus.

    Finally, people began to develop systems of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (write) marks to show different numbers, and this {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (lead) to the Hindu-Arabic system (0-9). We are still using this system today.