Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes
Count back from 10 and from 20
Number sense
CCSS K.CC.A.2England: Reception NumberEngland: Y1 Number and place value
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Count back from 10 and from 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 forward from any number (to 30)
Leads to: Count backwards within 120; Subtract by jumping back on a number line (to 10); Subtract by counting back
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 forward from any number (to 30)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Keep counting: 13, 14, 15, __ → 16Prompt: Each number is one more than the one before.
- Spot the mistake. Which number is wrong? 5, 6, 17, 8, 9 (5 / 6 / 17 / 8 / 9) → 17Prompt: Each number should be one more than the one before.
- Keep counting: 15, 16, 17, __ → 18Prompt: Each number is one more than the one before.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
- Share the objective: Count back from 10 and from 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: Count back: 9, 8, 7, __
- Step 1: 7 − 1 = 6
- Step 2: 6
- Answer: 6
- 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.
- Count back: 5, 4, 3, __ → 2Prompt: Counting back, each number is one less.
- A rocket countdown has a number missing: 13, __, 11, 10, 9 → 12Prompt: The numbers go down by one each 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.
- Count back: 4, 3, 2, __ → 1Prompt: Counting back, each number is one less.
- A rocket countdown has a number missing: 20, 19, __, 17, 16 → 18Prompt: The numbers go down by one each 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
- Review first: Count forward from any number (to 30).
- 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 backwards within 120; Subtract by jumping back on a number line (to 10); Subtract by counting back.
- 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