Counting to 20: Building Number Sense One Object at a Time
Hold up both your hands. You have 10 fingers! If your friend holds up their hands too, together you have 20 fingers. Counting to 20 means learning that numbers keep going in an order, and that each number means exactly one more than the last.
What You'll Learn
- How to count objects one at a time up to 20 without skipping or repeating - How to recognize the numbers 1 through 20 written down - How to know which number is bigger when comparing two groups
One Object, One Number
When we count real things, like blocks or crayons, we touch each one and say just one number. If you have 7 blocks, you touch the first block and say '1,' touch the next and say '2,' and keep going until you touch the last block and say '7.' The last number you say tells you how many there are in all!
Numbers 11-20 Are Special
After you count to 10, the next numbers are 11, 12, 13, all the way to 20. These numbers are made of a ten and some extra ones. For example, 14 is ten and four more. Practicing 11-20 out loud, in order, helps your brain learn the pattern.
More or Fewer?
If you count one group and get 8, and count another group and get 12, the group with 12 has more! Comparing groups by counting them first is one of the most important number skills you will use every day, like knowing if you have enough cups for everyone at snack time.
Count stairs as you climb them, count snacks on your plate, or count cars you see out the window. The more you count real things, the stronger your number sense grows.
You count 9 apples in one basket and 13 apples in another basket. Which basket has more apples?
If you count 6 toy cars one at a time and the last number you say is '6', how many toy cars are there?
Count and Draw
Gather up to 20 small objects (buttons, cereal pieces, or toys). Count them out loud one at a time, touching each one. Then draw the objects on paper and write the total number below your drawing. Do this two more times with different amounts of objects.
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