Lesson
Learn to count by tens and count actual objects.
Recommended Ages
Pre-schoolers and kindergarteners
Vocabulary
Cardinality: (which is a kindergarten-level skill) where the child can not only count from one to ten, but they can also find the number of objects in a set
At our final session of Lunchtime Literacy at Fishtown Library, we taught a lesson on counting by tens. Learning to count to ten, not just by rote counting, but also by finding the number of objects in a set, is a kindergarten-level skill known as cardinality. Often, preschoolers can easily recite the numbers from one to ten, but are unable to count actual objects.
Part 1: Counting Images Out Loud as a Group.
Start by reading 1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book by Eric Carle. You can find a read-aloud video of the book, here! Count each number from one to ten, and point out the individual animals illustrated for the number. Invited the children to count along, too!
Part 2: Counting Manipulatives: Using Froot Loops as Beads.
Reinforce the counting lesson by using real objects, like Froot Loops. Use dental floss as string (this makes the entire project a mouth-friendly one!). Have the children practice counting out rows of ten Froot Loops before stringing them on the dental floss. After creating their Froot Loops strings, kids can enjoy them as a reward for their hard work in counting practice! You can also use them as garlands and wrap them around trees, bannisters, or even on the wall!
Reflection
We taught this lesson on counting by tens at our final session of Lunchtime Literacy at Fishtown Library. When reading the Eric Carle book, one three-year old boy was especially perceptive and able to assign a count to each image correctly! Our preschoolers were delighted to the Froot Loops as beads for a necklace-stringing project. Though our preschoolers are too young to count beyond ten, these rows of tens introduced them to the concept of our base ten counting system.