Counting by Tens and Ones – Elementary Math

Purpose

To count forwards and backwards by tens.

Materials

None

Overview

Choose a number that is not a multiple of 10 (for example, 36). Have children count by tens in unison, beginning with the chosen number. After several tens say “Ones!” and children will start counting by ones. Say “Tens!” to change several more times so children switch back and forth counting by tens and ones. As a variation, you might repeat this working backward by tens and ones.

About the sequence

In Part 1 children change from counting by tens to ones. Part 2 moves to back and forth counting by tens and ones. In the extension, children count backwards, starting with ones and then counting by tens.

Part 1

(Child’s name), please pick a starting number. We’ll count by tens, starting at that number. When I say “Ones!” keep counting by ones, not tens. Let’s just try.

Examples:

26, 36, 46, 56, ones, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62
57, 67, 77, ones, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83

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

Part 2

(Child’s name), please pick a starting number. We’ll count by tens, starting at that number. When I say “Ones!” keep counting by ones, not tens. When I say, “Tens!” switch back to counting by tens, not ones.

Examples:

48, 58, 68, ones, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, tens, 83, 93, 103, ones, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, tens, 118, 128, 138, 148
59, 69, 79, ones, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, tens, 94, 104, ones, 105, 106, 107, 108, tens, 118, 128, ones, 129, 130

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

Extension

This time we’ll count backward by tens, starting at a number. When I say “Ones!” keep counting by backwards by ones, not tens. When I say, “Tens!” switch back to counting backwards by tens, not ones.

Examples:

93, 83, 73, ones, 72, 71, 70, 69, tens, 59, 49, 39, ones, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, tens, 24, 14, 4
88, 78, 68, ones, 67, 66, 65, 64, tens, 54, 44, 34, ones, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, tens, 19, 9