LESSON

SKIP COUNTING BY 10s:

Subject: Maths
Topic: Number and place value - counting
Year Level: Foundation/Year 1

AIM(S): The aim of the lesson is to develop students ability to count by 10s by counting
collections by making groups of 10s.
CONNECTION TO CURRICULUM:
IELP: Students choose counting strategies such as skip counting when quantifying.

ACARA: Students develop confidence with number sequences and skip count by twos, fives and
tens starting from zero (year 1).

OUTCOMES:
Understanding: Students will begin to develop their understanding of the pattern of skip counting
by 10s.
Knowledge: Students will know that skip counting is a more efficient counting strategy.
Skill: Students will be able to use collections to make groups of ten.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:
- One Hundred Hungry Ants picture book by Elinor J Princez
- Unifx cubes
- Math counting collections
- Number grid on smart board

INTRODUCTION (10min):
Introduce the lesson with the picture book One Hundred Hungry Ants . This will support children
to transition from one lesson to the next, helping them to settle and prepare for the lesson. The
picture book will engage students in learning and act as a visual introduction to the maths lesson.
After the book has finished guide a class discussion on the book that will lead into skip counting.
Guiding questions:
- Can you tell me what that story was about?
- Why did the littlest ant stop the ants?
- What did the ants do to move faster? So the ants divided into two groups again and again
- First there was one row on 100 ants and then two rows of 50 and then four rows of 25 and
then five rows of 20, ten rows of 10.

So just like the ants in the story we too use some different strategies to help us count faster.
If I wanted to count all these unfix cubes would I count them one by one? What might be a quicker
way of counting them? Lets count some of these unifix cubes together by 10s.

DEVELOPMENT (10min):
Count some of the unifix cubes
Lets see how many unifx cubes we have if everyone makes two groups of 10.
- Have each student make two groups of 10 with the unfix cubes
- Line the rows of 10 up at the front of the classroom
- Count them together putting a sticky note under each row with the count, explaining each row
still only has 10.
Show students the number grid, pointing out the 10s column; ask if they can see a pattern, ask if
Charlie c an explain the pattern

Explain the pattern in counting by 10s.

On the smart board number grid use a square to show that it is the same as counting by 1s (1,2 , 3,
4 , 5 ect), except that it has a zero on the end. So every number in the 10s must end in a zero. So if
you can count to 10 (which I know you all can) you can count by 10s.
CLOSURE (25min):
Have children count collections by making groups of 10:
Division of resources and differentiation
Level 1: Make 3 groups of 10 (Have T and S begin by making 1 group):
Unifix Cubes:

Level 2: Make 5 groups of 10
Coloured buttons and cups:
&
Popsticks:

Level 3: Make 10 groups of 10
Foam squares and patty pans:
&
Small red counters and patty pans:

Coloured counters and coloured patty pans

(Extension: Once C has finished ask him to add three more groups of 10 and then see if he
remembers how to record the counting by 10s on paper, if not explain again and have him record
his work.)

During this activity, I will walk around supporting students, specifically helping them to make
their groups of 1,0 and to count the groups to help form and develop their understanding around
skip counting by 10s. Most children may not be able to count the groups by 10, but counting with
them and talking about the counting process will support them in forming the knowledge and
understanding in this area.

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING
Throughout the lesson I will be assessing students understanding of skip counting as a more
efficient way of counting.
.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
I will be assessing students ability to make groups of 10. I will use a checklist to record which
students can make groups of 10.