Counting Backward from 60 – Elementary Math

Purpose

To practice counting backwards fluently

Materials

clock with second hand or stopwatch (for the teacher)

Overview

Count backwards from 60 to 0 with your class. For the first few practices, use a clock with a second hand to support children counting in rhythm. Eventually have children practice without the support of the clock. For an extra challenge, children practice counting backwards from 60 to 0 silently and with their eyes closed. Announce when 60 seconds have passed so that the children can judge how accurately they gauged the length of time. They will find that a minute is a very long time!

About the sequence

In Part 1, children count backwards from 60 to 0 using the second hand of a clock (or stopwatch) to support counting in rhythm. Part 2 moves to counting backwards from 60 to 0 fluently (and without the support of the clock). The extension has children counting backwards from 60 silently.

Part 1

Let’s count backwards starting at 60 and ending at 0, using the second hand of the clock (or stopwatch) to say one number per second and no faster.

60, 59, 58…2, 1, 0

If children need more practice or are enjoying their mastery, repeat. If children are ready to move on, go to Part 2.

Part 2

Let’s count backwards, starting at 60 and ending at 0, without using the clock.

60, 59, 58…2, 1, 0

If children need more practice, repeat. Or, when children seem excited for a new challenge, move to the extension.

Extension

Let’s count silently with our eyes closed, starting at 60 and ending at 0. When you’ve reached zero, raise your hand. You will start counting silently when I say go.

(After telling them to begin, time 60 seconds on the clock. Announce when 60 seconds have passed so that the children can judge how accurately they gauged the length of time.)

60, 59, 58…2, 1, 0 (with children counting silently)