Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Count pictures up to 5
Number sense
CCSS K.CC.B.4CCSS K.CC.B.5England: Reception Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Count pictures up to 5.
- 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: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.
Leads to: Count pictures from 6 to 10; Read a ten frame up to 10; Choose the picture that shows a number
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: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How many hearts are there? ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ → 5Prompt: Touch each one as you count it.
- Which number tells how many dots? ● (2 / 3 / 1) → 1Prompt: Count them carefully, one at a time.
- Maya counted these stars and said "3". Is Maya right? ★ ★ ★ ★ (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Count the pictures yourself first.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Count pictures up to 5. 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: How many dots are there? ●
- Step 1: 1
- Step 2: There are 1.
- Answer: 1
- 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.
- How many hearts are there? ♥ ♥ → 2Prompt: Touch each one as you count it.
- Which number tells how many dots? ● ● ● ● (4 / 6 / 3 / 5) → 4Prompt: Count them carefully, one at a time.
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.
- How many dots are there? ● ● → 2Prompt: Touch each one as you count it.
- Which number tells how many diamonds? ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ (5 / 4 / 3 / 6) → 4Prompt: Count them carefully, one at a time.
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
- 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
- Move on to: Count pictures from 6 to 10; Read a ten frame up to 10; Choose the picture that shows a number.
- 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