Skip Counting by Tens – Elementary Math

Purpose

To skip count forwards and backwards by tens fluently, from any number.

Materials

None

Overview

Choose a number that is not divisible by 10. Have children count by tens, beginning with your chosen number. For example, if you choose 13, they would start at 13 and think “10 more is 23, 10 more is 33, 10 more is 43, 53,” and so on. Children may need your help as they pass 100. At around 150, stop and have them count backward by tens from whatever number they stop on. Repeat with several other starting numbers, counting forward and backward by tens across 100. You might vary the activity by picking a starting number and calling on individuals to provide the next number in the sequence.

About the sequence

Part 1 has children to count by tens starting at a number that is not divisible by 10 (e.g., 23) and pausing around 150. Part 2 practices counting backwards from whatever number children stopped on. The extension moves to counting by tens from a number that is not divisible by 10, but is greater than 100 (e.g., 105).

Part 1

I’ll give you a starting number…23. Let’s skip count by tens starting at 23.

23, 33, 43, 53…143, 153

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

Part 2

Next, let’s count backwards by tens from 153, ready?

153, 143, 133…23, 13, 3

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

Extension

I’ll give you a starting number that’s greater than 100, like 105. Let’s skip count by tens starting at 105.

105, 115, 125…205, 215, 225