Skip counting and multiplication

Purpose

To connect skip counting and multiplication.

Materials

None

Overview

Have students count by 2 (to 48), 4 (to 48), and 8 (to 96), then 5 (to 100) and 10 (to 100), starting at 0 and then backwards. For example, if students first count by 2, this time have them count by 4 and then by 8. In both Parts 1 and 2, we have suggested number sequences that highlight relationships among skip counting patterns.These exercises help students review their multiplication facts and to notice relationships among skip counting patterns.

About the sequence

Part 1 asks students to skip count by 2, 4, 8, 5 and 10, starting at 0 and then counting backwards. Part 2 asks students skip count by 3, 6, and 12, starting at 0 and then counting backwards. Throughout students are asked to look for patterns.

Part 1

Let’s skip count together by 2. We’ll start at 0 and end at 24 and then we’ll count backwards by 4s from 24 to 0. Then we’ll skip count by 4 and 8.

Examples:

Skip count by 2 to 48 (0, 2, 4, 6, 8…46, 48, 46…8, 6, 4, 2, 0)
Skip count by 4 to 48 (0, 4, 8, 12…44, 48, 44…12, 8, 4, 0)
Skip count by 8 to 96 (0, 8, 16, 24…88, 96, 88…24, 16, 8, 0)
Skip count by 5 to 100 (0, 5, 10, 15…90, 95, 100, 95, 90…15, 10, 5, 0)
Skip count by 10 to 100 (0, 10, 20…80, 90, 100, 90, 80…20, 10, 0)

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

Part 2

Now let’s try skip counting some other numbers and see what you notice in the patterns. (Students may notice that there are related patterns between 3, 6, and 12).

Examples:

Skip count by 3 to 72 (0, 3, 6, 9…66, 69, 72, 69, 66…9, 6, 3, 0)
Skip count by 6 to 72 (0, 6, 12…66, 72, 66…12, 6, 0)
Skip count by 12 to 144 (0, 12, 24…132, 144, 132…24, 12, 0)