Skip-Counting by Tens Forward and Back

Purpose

To skip-count by tens fluently.

Materials

For the teacher: sticks of 10 connecting cubes (and sticks of 20 connecting cubes for the extension)

Overview

Begin this activity by counting from 0 to 10 and then by counting backward from 10 to 0. Next, use sticks of 10 cubes to model counting by tens to 100, having children count aloud one stick of ten at a time. Then begin removing one stick of ten at a time as you count backward to zero.

connecting cubes

About the sequence

Part 1, a warm-up, reviews counting forward to 10 and then backwards from 10. Part 2 moves to counting by tens to 100 and then backwards from 100, initially using sticks of 10 cubes and eventually removing that support. The extension moves to counting forwards to 200 and backwards from 200.

Part 1

We’ll start at 0 and count to 10 and then count backwards from 10 to 0. (Once children are familiar, you may opt to have a child lead this or have children take turns saying each number in the sequence).

0, 1, 2, 3…8, 9, 10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1, 0

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

Part 2

This time we’ll start at 0 and count by tens to 100, adding one stick of 10 with each number we say. Then when we get to 100 we’ll count backwards to 0, removing one stick of 10 with each number we say. (As children are more confident and fluent in their counting, you may want to stop using the sticks of 10 and conduct the activity entirely orally).

10, 20, 30, 40… 90, 100… 90, 80, 70, 60… 20, 10, 0

As always, when children seem excited for a new challenge, move on.

Extension

This time we’ll start at 0 and count by tens to 200, adding one stick of 10 with each number we say. Then when we get to 200 we’ll count backwards to 0, removing one stick of 10 with each number we say.

10, 20, 30, 40… 190, 200… 290, 280, 270, 260… 20, 10, 0