Counting Forward and Backward by Tens

Purpose

To count forwards and backwards by tens

Materials

None

Overview

Have children count aloud by tens, starting at zero. Continue counting in this way past 100. Then say “switch”, and have children start counting backward by tens from that place. Repeat, but this time have the class count by tens past 200 and then count backward as far as they can.

About the sequence

In Part 1, children practice counting forwards by tens, starting at 0, and once they reach 150, they count backwards. In Part 2, a “switch” is introduced, having children change counting direction with multiples of 10 less than 200. The extension moves to counting by tens starting at 150, moving past 200 and then backward, again incorporating switch to change counting direction.

Part 1

Let’s count by tens to 150 and then count backwards by tens to 0.

0, 10, 20…130, 140, 150, 140, 130…20, 10, 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

This time we’ll count by tens again, but when I say “Switch!” you switch counting directions.

10, 20, 30…70, 80, switch, 70, 60, 50, switch, 60, 70, 80…110, 120, 130, switch, 120, 110, 100, 90…

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

Extension

This time let’s start at a larger starting number (such as 150), and when I say “Switch!” you switch counting directions.

150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, switch, 200, 190, 180, switch, 190, 200…230, 240, switch, 230, 220