Counting to 20

Let’s Start with a Question! 🤔

Have you ever wondered how many fingers and toes you have? Or how many candles will be on your birthday cake? The answer to all these questions starts with counting - the very first and most important skill in all of mathematics!

What is Counting to 20?

Counting is the process of naming numbers in order to find out how many things we have. When we count to 20, we’re learning to say the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… all the way up to 20 in the correct sequence.

Think of it like this:

• If you have a collection of toy cars, counting helps you know exactly how many you have
• The numbers we say must be in the right order: 1, 2, 3, 4… (not 1, 3, 2, 5!)
• Each object gets counted once and only once - this is called one-to-one correspondence

Why is Counting to 20 Important?

Counting is the foundation of ALL mathematics! You use counting when you:

• Share sweets fairly with friends
• Know how old you are
• Count down the days until a special event
• Play board games and move your piece forward
• Count money in your piggy bank

Without counting, you can’t add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Mastering counting to 20 opens the door to understanding bigger numbers and all the exciting mathematics that comes after!

Understanding Counting Through Pictures

Imagine you want to count apples: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Here’s how we count them properly:

1. Point to the first apple and say “1”
2. Point to the second apple and say “2”
3. Point to the third apple and say “3”
4. Point to the fourth apple and say “4”
5. Point to the fifth apple and say “5”

The last number you say (5) tells you how many apples there are!

Teacher’s Insight 👨‍🏫

Here’s what I’ve learned from teaching thousands of students: Many children can recite “1, 2, 3, 4…” like a song, but that’s different from truly understanding counting! The magic happens when students realize that:

1. Each number word matches exactly one object
2. The order never changes
3. The last number said tells the total quantity

My top tip: Use real objects that children can touch and move. When they physically touch each item as they count, they develop a much deeper understanding than just reciting numbers!

The Number Line: Your Counting Friend

Imagine numbers living in houses along a street:

1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9---10---11---12---13---14---15---16---17---18---19---20

Numbers always live in the same order, and we can visit them by counting forward (1, 2, 3…) or backward (20, 19, 18…)!

Strategies for Counting to 20

Strategy 1: The Touching Technique

Touch each object as you count it - this stops you from counting the same thing twice!

Example: When counting buttons, touch each one and move it aside as you say its number.

Strategy 2: Making Groups of 5 or 10

Group objects into sets of 5 or 10 to make counting easier and more accurate.

Example: If you have 14 pencils, arrange them as: 5 + 5 + 4. Count the first group (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), then the second (6, 7, 8, 9, 10), then the rest (11, 12, 13, 14).

Strategy 3: Using Your Fingers

Your fingers are natural counting tools! You have 10 fingers, which is perfect for numbers up to 10. For numbers 11-20, count your fingers twice!

Example: For 12, count all 10 fingers, then 2 more.

Strategy 4: The Number Track

Use a number track (like a ruler or numbered line) to physically point and count.

Example: Start at 1 and hop along the track saying each number as you land on it.

Strategy 5: Counting On

If you already know you have 10 items and add more, you don’t need to start from 1 - just count on from 10!

Example: You have 10 toy cars and get 3 more. Count “10… 11, 12, 13” - you have 13 cars!

Key Vocabulary

• Counting sequence: The order of numbers (1, 2, 3, 4…)
• One-to-one correspondence: Matching each object with exactly one number word
• Cardinal number: The last number counted, which tells “how many” (if you count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, then 5 is the cardinal number)
• Numeral: The written symbol for a number (1, 2, 3…)
• Quantity: How many there are
• Count all: Counting every object from the beginning
• Count on: Starting from a number and counting forward from there

Worked Examples

Example 1: Counting Objects

Problem: Count these stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Solution: 7 stars

Detailed Explanation:

• Point to each star as you count: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7”
• Don’t skip any stars
• Don’t count the same star twice
• The last number you say (7) tells you how many stars there are

Think about it: The order you count the stars doesn’t matter - left to right, right to left, or randomly - as long as you count each one exactly once, you’ll always get 7!

Example 2: What Comes Next?

Problem: What number comes after 14 when counting?

Solution: 15

Detailed Explanation:

• The counting sequence is: …12, 13, 14, 15, 16…
• After 14, we always say 15
• The order never changes!

Think about it: Learning the counting sequence is like learning the alphabet - each letter (or number) always comes in the same position!

Example 3: Counting Forward from a Number

Problem: Count forward from 8 to 13.

Solution: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Detailed Explanation:

• Start at 8 (that’s your first number)
• Keep counting: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
• Notice how 10 comes right after 9 - it’s not 91!

Think about it: Counting forward is like climbing stairs - you go up one step at a time in order!

Example 4: Finding How Many

Problem: You have 11 stickers. If you count them, what’s the last number you’ll say?

Solution: 11

Detailed Explanation:

• If you have 11 stickers, you’ll count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
• The last number you say is 11
• That last number tells you the total quantity

Think about it: The last number isn’t just the last thing you say - it’s the answer to “how many?”

Example 5: Counting Backward

Problem: Count backward from 5 to 1.

Solution: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Detailed Explanation:

• Start at 5
• Go backwards (down) through the numbers: 4, 3, 2, 1
• This is like a countdown for a rocket launch!

Think about it: Counting backward uses the same sequence, just in reverse - like reading a list from bottom to top!

Example 6: Real-Life Counting

Problem: There are 18 children in your class. 6 are absent today. How do you count to find how many are present?

Solution: Count the children who are present. You would count and find 12 children.

Detailed Explanation:

• You could count each child who is present: 1, 2, 3… up to 12
• Or, you could think: 18 - 6 = 12 (but at this level, counting is perfect!)
• Either way, physically counting helps you be certain

Think about it: Counting is useful for checking your work - if you’re not sure, count again!

Example 7: Comparing Quantities

Problem: You count 8 red marbles and 12 blue marbles. Which color has more?

Solution: Blue marbles (because 12 is more than 8)

Detailed Explanation:

• When you count to 8, you stop at 8
• When you count to 12, you keep going: 9, 10, 11, 12
• The number that comes later in the counting sequence is bigger
• 12 comes after 8, so 12 is more than 8

Think about it: Counting helps us compare amounts - the higher the number, the more objects!

Common Misconceptions & How to Avoid Them

Misconception 1: “Counting is just saying numbers in order”

The Truth: Counting isn’t just reciting numbers like a poem - it’s about matching each number to one object to find out “how many.”

How to think about it correctly: When counting, you must point to or touch each object as you say its number. This connects the number word to the actual quantity.

Misconception 2: “The last number I touch is just the last one, not the total”

The Truth: The last number you say when counting tells you HOW MANY objects there are altogether - it’s the most important number!

How to think about it correctly: When you count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the “5” doesn’t just mean the fifth object - it means you have 5 objects in total!

Misconception 3: “You can count objects in any random order with different results”

The Truth: While you can count objects in any order (starting from anywhere), the TOTAL will always be the same!

How to think about it correctly: Whether you count left to right or right to left, 6 objects will always count to 6!

Misconception 4: “Numbers after 10 are too hard”

The Truth: Numbers after 10 follow a pattern! 11, 12, 13, 14… are just like 1, 2, 3, 4… with a “teen” sound added.

How to think about it correctly: Think of 11-20 as a second set of numbers. Once you know 1-10, learning 11-20 is much easier!

Common Errors to Watch Out For

Memory Aids & Tricks

The Counting Song

“One, two, buckle my shoe, Three, four, knock at the door, Five, six, pick up sticks, Seven, eight, lay them straight, Nine, ten, a big fat hen!”

Continue with your own rhymes for 11-20!

The Finger Trick

Your fingers are built-in counters! Use them to keep track:

• Hold up fingers as you count
• Fold down fingers as you count backward
• You have 10 fingers - perfect for learning numbers to 10!

The Teen Pattern

Notice that 13-19 all end in “teen”:

• ThirTEEN, FourTEEN, FifTEEN, SixTEEN, SevenTEEN, EighTEEN, NineTEEN
• This pattern helps you remember they come after 12!

The “Touch and Say” Method

Always touch what you’re counting as you say the number - this keeps you organized and accurate!

Practice Problems

Easy Level (1-10)

1. Count these dots: ●●●●●● Answer: 6 (Point to each dot and count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

2. What number comes right after 7? Answer: 8 (The sequence goes: 6, 7, 8, 9…)

3. Count backward from 5 to 1. Answer: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (Like a countdown!)

4. How many fingers do you have on both hands? Answer: 10 fingers (5 on each hand: 5 + 5 = 10)

Medium Level (11-20)

5. What number comes right after 13? Answer: 14 (The sequence goes: 12, 13, 14, 15…)

6. Count from 10 to 15. Answer: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (Notice how each number is one more than the previous)

7. What number comes right before 18? Answer: 17 (The sequence goes: …16, 17, 18, 19…)

8. If you have 12 crayons and count them all, what’s the last number you’ll say? Answer: 12 (The last number tells you how many there are)

Challenge Level (Thinking Required!)

9. Count backward from 20 to 15. Answer: 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 (Going down one number at a time)

10. You’re counting toys and you’ve reached 11. What are the next 3 numbers in order? Answer: 12, 13, 14 (Each number is one more than the previous)

11. Fill in the missing numbers: 8, 9, _, 11, _, 13 Answer: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 (The sequence continues in order)

12. How many fingers and toes do you have altogether? Answer: 20 (10 fingers + 10 toes = 20)

Real-World Applications

In the Classroom 📚

Scenario: Your teacher asks everyone to count how many pencils they have in their pencil case.

How counting helps: You count each pencil (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and discover you have 6 pencils. This helps you know if you need more!

Why this matters: Counting helps you keep track of your school supplies and know when something is missing or when you need to get more.

At Home 🏠

Scenario: You’re setting the table for dinner. Your family has 4 people, so you need to know how many plates, forks, and cups to put out.

How counting helps: You count: “1 plate for Mum, 2 plates for Mum and Dad, 3 plates for Mum, Dad, and me, 4 plates for everyone!” Then you do the same for forks and cups.

Why this matters: Counting ensures everyone has what they need - no one is left without a plate!

Playing Games 🎲

Scenario: You roll a dice and need to move your game piece forward on the board.

How counting helps: If you roll a 5, you count spaces: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5” as you move your piece. This ensures you move the correct number of spaces.

Why this matters: Counting accurately helps you play games fairly and know where your piece should land!

Shopping 🛒

Scenario: Your parent asks you to help put 8 apples in a bag at the supermarket.

How counting helps: You count each apple as you put it in: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.” Now you know you have exactly 8!

Why this matters: Counting helps ensure you get the right amount of items when shopping, so you don’t run out or have too much!

Birthday Parties 🎉

Scenario: It’s your birthday and you need 7 candles for your cake because you’re turning 7 years old!

How counting helps: You count out candles: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7” to make sure you have the right number for your age.

Why this matters: Counting connects to important personal milestones like birthdays and helps celebrate special occasions correctly!

Study Tips for Mastering Counting to 20

1. Practice Every Day (Just 2-3 Minutes!)

Count everyday objects: stairs as you climb them, cars as they pass, toys as you put them away. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes!

2. Use Real Objects You Can Touch

Count things like blocks, buttons, toys, or fruit. Moving objects as you count helps your brain understand better than just looking at pictures.

3. Make It Fun with Songs and Rhymes

Sing counting songs! Music makes learning fun and helps your brain remember the sequence.

4. Play Counting Games

Play board games, card games, or counting games with family. Learning through play is the best way to practice!

5. Write Numbers While You Count

As you count objects, write the numerals (1, 2, 3…). This connects the spoken word, the quantity, and the written symbol.

6. Practice Counting Backward Too

Counting backward is just as important as counting forward! It helps you understand the number sequence better.

7. Challenge Yourself with Different Starting Points

Don’t always start at 1. Try counting from 5 to 12, or from 8 to 15. This builds flexibility!

How to Check Your Answers

1. Count again: The best way to check counting is to count again! If you get the same answer, you’re probably correct.
2. Count a different way: Try grouping objects differently or counting in a different order. You should still get the same total.
3. Use your fingers: For smaller numbers, use your fingers to verify your count.
4. Ask someone else to count: Have a friend or adult count the same objects. Do you both get the same answer?
5. Use a number line: Point to each number on a number line as you count. Does it match?

Extension Ideas for Fast Learners

• Practice counting beyond 20 (up to 30, 40, or even 100!)
• Try counting by 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10… (this is called skip counting)
• Learn to count backward from 20 to 1
• Count objects in different arrangements - scattered, in lines, in circles
• Write the numerals 1-20 neatly and in order
• Play “guess how many” - estimate first, then count to check
• Count in two languages if you know another language

Parent & Teacher Notes

Building Strong Foundations: Counting to 20 is one of the most critical skills in early mathematics. Take time to ensure genuine understanding - it’s far more valuable than rushing through.

Common Struggles: If a student struggles with counting, check if they:

• Can recite the number sequence to 20 (even without objects)
• Understand one-to-one correspondence (one number for each object)
• Remember the cardinality principle (last number = how many)
• Can recognize numerals and match them to quantities

Differentiation Tips:

• Struggling learners: Use lots of hands-on materials. Start with smaller numbers (1-10) and build up slowly. Practice the counting sequence through songs and repetition.
• On-track learners: Encourage counting in different contexts. Practice counting forward and backward. Introduce “counting on” from different numbers.
• Advanced learners: Extend counting beyond 20. Introduce skip counting by 2s or 5s. Practice writing numerals and simple addition.

Multi-Sensory Approach: Use sight (looking at objects), touch (moving objects), sound (saying numbers), and movement (jumping, clapping) to engage different learning styles.

Real-World Practice: Point out counting opportunities throughout the day - stairs, food items, toys, books, cars. The more contexts children count in, the better they understand!

Remember: Every mathematician in the world started by learning to count to 20! This foundation, built with patience and understanding, sets children up for success in all future mathematics. Celebrate every achievement and keep practice positive and playful! 🌟