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Counting to 10

Ed likes to help put away the shopping at home.

Learning intention

Students will learn how to:

  • count up to 10 objects
  • count backwards to check the total number of objects.

Success criteria

I will know I have been successful if I can:

  • count up to 10 objects
  • count backwards to check
  • arrange objects to count them accurately.

Prerequisites

Forwards and backwards counting sequences 1–10

Language

Reinforce the use of mathematical language: count, count backwards, count forwards, how many?

Misconceptions

  • Objects can be counted more than once (one-to-one correspondence).
  • If the objects are moved around they will have to be counted again (conservation).
  • Objects always have to be counted from the same direction (order irrelevance).

Before the video

  • Display a number line from 1 to 10. Count forwards and backwards together.
  • Ask the students to count out a given number of objects (up to 5). Discuss how they know how many objects they have.

During the video

First viewing:

Watch the video without stopping or pausing. Then, ask the children to explain what happened in the video. Begin to draw out key vocabulary or possible misconceptions.

Second viewing:

Pause point Key learning Action/discussion
1:59 Count each item only once Discuss: Has Ed counted the correct number of apples? What could he do to help him count accurately?
4:02 Count 9 items Count the yoghurt pots together.
4:27 Count 10 items Shall we count them? (Play the video and count with Ed)

After the video

Counting practice:

  • Display a group of objects to count (in a disorganised arrangement) then demonstrate counting them (count beyond the true number of items).
  • Q: What could we do to make sure we count them correctly? Arrange the items and recount.
  • Q: Could we arrange them in another way? Rearrange and discuss whether there is still the same number of objects. Count the objects from the other direction.
  • Count backwards as you move the objects.

Counting stations 6–10:

  • Set up counting stations with different objects to count (6–10): bear counters, fruit/food items, straws, linking cubes (to link together as they count). Ask students to arrange the objects, count forwards, count backwards to check, and record the number of objects on a clipboard before moving to a new counting station.

Game: The Dot Shop

  • Player 1 turns over a Mathletics number card 6–10 and counts out that number of counters. They then place those counters over connected dots on the page. Take turns. Play stops when a player cannot go (and the winner is the other player).

Download The Dot Shop page

Mathletics worksheets:

Download worksheet

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