Before or After: Numbers 0 to 20

Purpose

To use clues of number before and number after to identify a given number.

Overview

With the class, practice counting from 0 to 20 and then from 20 to 0. Then select a secret number but only tell children the number that comes before it and after it. After several rounds, have a child choose the secret number and call on volunteers to tell the number that comes before it or after it. As children are good at this, challenge them to find the number that comes two after or two before. You might say, “What comes after ______, and after that?”

About the sequence

Part 1 begins with identifying numbers that come before and after a number 1 to 19 using a number line. Part 2 has the children think of a number and give the before and after clues. The Extension moves to find the number that comes two after or two before.

Part 1

I’ll choose a secret number between 1 and 19, but I’m only going to tell you the number that comes before it and the number that comes after it as clues. You try to figure out my secret number using the number line.

Examples:

16, 18 (secret number: 17)
11, 13 (secret number: 12)
9, 11 (secret number: 10)
15, 17 (secret number: 16)
9, 11 (secret number: 10)

While children are enjoying their building of mastery, feel free to repeat. When children are eager for more, try Part 2.

Part 2

I’ll ask for a volunteer to think of a number between 1 and 19, but only tell the number that comes before it or after it. Everyone’s job is to figure out what the secret number is using _______’s (child’s name) clues.

Examples:

the number before is 16 (secret number: 15)
the number after is 16 (secret number: 17)
the number before is 10 (secret number: 9)
the number after is 10 (secret number: 11)

As always, when children seem excited for a new challenge, move on.

Extension

Now let’s try to find the number that comes two after or two before. You might say, “What comes after ______, and after that?” or What comes before _____, and before that?”

Examples:

What comes after 14, and after that? (15, 16)
What comes before 12, and before that? (11, 10)
What comes after 11, and after that? (12, 13)
What comes before 19, and before that? (18, 17)