Counting Objects to 20 Worksheets
These worksheets help students learn to count a series of up to 20 objects. The goal for your students should not just be plain old rote memorization of these numbers in order. That does not capture the true nature of the concept of counting. We really are hoping that we can bring students to a level of understanding where they can attribute a value to each number within that series. There are a number of different ways you can help students achieve this. It helps students track this skill by using an array of columns and rows to place items in. Some teachers start with this method and gradually remove it. Other teachers feel that it provides a false sense of security. I find the biggest gap between students is when we transition from counting the item over and over to a variety of items. Some students get lost in translation with this. For those students that do, just make a more subtle transition. Start by counting the same item with different sizes and then transition to different items. Some things that often cause difficulty are arrangement. It does not matter how you arrange the same item; the total count will always be the same. I like to encourage students to say the numbers out loud when looking for total values. If you have any trouble, there are a bunch of lesson below to help you.
Aligned Standard: Kindergarten - CC.3
- Representing Objects with Numbers (0 to 20) Lesson- Count and convert numbers to words. A simple way to start.
- Objects with Numbers (0 to 20) Guided Lesson - We have you count, draw count, trace, and convert words to numbers.
- Explanation for Guided Lesson Counting to 20- It's almost impossible to explain number three, so I just filled it in.
- Practice With Objects Sheet - Number words and counting objects.
- Coloring Puzzle - Color the bee by matching the words to numbers.
- Count by Shading Worksheet - Shade in the proper number of squares. This is a good lead into handwriting skills.
- Number Match Worksheet - A nice matching sheet. Match the number of object to the sets of objects.
- Counting Numbers of Objects 1 to 5 Five Pack - This is a five page file filled with counting practice.
- Count and Compare Five Pack - This is a counting exercise that can have an added benefit for comparing the number of objects in two sets.
- Write The Integer - We have students start to write numbers.
- How many are there? - Count and write without any number prompts.
- Estimate the Number of Objects - We give them no prompts at all and want them to start to guesstimate, as I call it.
- Drawing to Count 1-10 - We tell you what and how many to draw of each item.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
- Circle Drawings Worksheet- Draw circlesthat display the number of plants that are missing.
- Count Flowers - Draw all the missing flowers.
- Count Fish Worksheet- How many fish are in the entire bay?
- Up to 20 Practice Worksheet- Any idea what the name of the little figurine in number 2 is called? My aunt had them when I was a kid.
- Filling the Table Guided Lesson- A simple series of counting boxes that we have you fill with the correct numbers.
- Fill Puzzle Counting Guided Worksheet- I am probably over using the puzzle image, but it is helpful to add another dimension to student thoughts.
- Ice Cream and Objects Counting Worksheet- It might sound weird at first, but my grandkids love little ice cream candies.
- Objects 0 to 20 Practice Worksheet- More boxes for you to sort through.
- Shade by Counting Worksheet- Shade the boxes to represent the numbers that you are given.
- Counting Objects to 20 Volleyball Guided Lesson- Twenty prompted volleyballs for you to count.
- Counting The Witch Hats- This also helps students get a little practice with multiple choice.
How to Help Students Learn to Count to 20
As we have covered on previous topics that involve number sense, we feel it is important for students to make this natural progression: Learn your numbers, count with those numbers, count missing pieces with those objects. How we, as teachers, approach this with our students can happen in any number of different ways. I have a colleague that I have worked side by side for two decades and when it comes to this topic, we approach all these different stages of learning differently. Here are a number of techniques that our staff finds helpful for learning this skill:
Hands-on - I cannot stress this enough, you need to spend a great deal of time with students using counting with physical objects that they can touch. At this age they need concrete experiences that will last with them. I start with helping them make 10 and then we advance to 20. The old what is missing from here activity is the way to go. For example, give them 6 objects and ask them how many more do we need to make 10 and then 20.
Counting Up as Adding - This is an elementary school skill, but if you can help students realize that counting up is the same thing as starting at an addend and then moving up the value of the other addend to end at the sum, they will be light years ahead. You can progress to this concept in many different ways, but I would suggest staying focused on using manipulatives whenever possible.