Counting Backwards – Elementary Math

Purpose

To practice counting backwards fluently

Materials

None

Overview

Count backwards with children from 20 to 0. You can use a clock to pace the count with the second hand, saying one number each second and no faster. You might count backward as a transition during the school day. For example, “I need everyone sitting on the carpet in 20 seconds for our story. 20, 19,…” Vary the activity by giving children opportunities for counting back from non-decade numbers such as 26, 58, or 95. Finding opportunities to practice counting backward builds practice for subtraction.

About the sequence

Part 1, counting backwards from 20, is a warm-up. Part 2 introduces counting backwards from non-decade numbers less than 30. The extension moves to non-decade numbers greater than 30 but less than 100.

Part 1

Let’s count backwards, starting at 20 and ending at 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 ___ (26) and ending at 0.

Examples:

26, 25, 24… 2, 1, 0
15, 14, 13…2, 1, 0
22, 21, 20…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 backwards, starting at ___ (58) and ending at ___ (30).

Examples:

58, 57, 56…32, 31, 30
62, 61, 60…42, 41, 40
95, 94, 93…52, 51, 50