Counting to 20
Counting is how we figure out HOW MANY of something we have. When we count, we say one number for each object — this is called one-to-one correspondence.
Core Concept
Start with 1 and go up: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... all the way to 20! Every number we say is one MORE than the number before it. You can count anything — blocks, fingers, apples, or stars. The LAST number you say tells you the total. If you count 7 blocks and touch each one, the answer is 7 blocks. Practice counting forward AND backward to build your number sense. Counting backward from 10 is like a rocket launch countdown!
Examples
Count 5 toy cars by touching each one. Then count 12 crayons. Then try counting backward from 10 to 1 — like a rocket launch!
When you count 8 blocks, what does the number 8 tell you?
Going Deeper
Now practice counting groups of objects around your home. Try counting by touching each item to make sure you do not skip any or count one twice.
Number Line Art
Draw a number line from 1 to 20. Under each number, draw that many dots. Color even numbers blue and odd numbers red.
Number Hunt
Walk around your room and find groups of objects. Count each group and write the number on a sticky note. Can you find a group of exactly 10 things?
What number comes after 14?
If you count 3 apples then 2 more, how many altogether?
Want to keep learning?
Sign up for free to access the full curriculum — all subjects, all ages.
Start Learning Free