Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Numbers before, after and between (to 20)
Number sense
CCSS K.CC.A.2CCSS K.CC.C.7England: Reception NumberEngland: Y1 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Numbers before, after and between (to 20).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Count to 20
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Count to 20). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Fill in the missing number: 8, 9, __, 11, 12 → 10Prompt: The numbers go up by 1 each time. What comes after the number before the gap?
- Write the number "thirteen" using digits. → 13Prompt: Say the number out loud and count up to it.
- Fill in the missing number: 14, 15, 16, __, 18 → 17Prompt: The numbers go up by 1 each time. What comes after the number before the gap?
Hook · 5 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Numbers before, after and between (to 20). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which number is between 11 and 15?
- Step 1: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
- Step 2: 12 is between 11 and 15.
- Answer: 12
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which number is between 4 and 7? (3 / 8 / 7 / 6) → 6Prompt: Count from 4 to 7. Which numbers do you say on the way?
- Daniel is thinking of the number just before 8. What is it? → 7Prompt: Just before means one less.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Tariq is thinking of the number just before 14. What is it? → 13Prompt: Just before means one less.
- Which number is between 12 and 16? (10 / 16 / 17 / 15) → 15Prompt: Count from 12 to 16. Which numbers do you say on the way?
Watch out for
- Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
- Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Count to 20.
- Use concrete materials: place value chart.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder