Resources for K.2
Understanding the Standard (for Instructor's use)
• Counting involves two separate skills: verbalizing the list of standard number words in order (“one, two, three, ...”) and connecting this sequence with the objects in the set being counted, using one-to-one correspondence. Association of number words with collections of objects is achieved by moving, touching, or pointing to objects as the number words are spoken. Objects may be presented in random order or arranged for easy counting.
• Kinesthetic involvement (e.g., tracing the numbers, using tactile materials, such as sand, sandpaper, carpeting, or finger paint) facilitates the writing of numerals.
• Articulating the characteristics of each numeral when writing numbers has been found to reduce the amount of time it takes to learn to write numerals.
• Zero (0) is both a number and a digit. As a number, it plays a central role in mathematics as the additive identity of the integers, real numbers, and many other algebraic structures. As a digit, zero is used as a placeholder in systems.
• Conservation of number and cardinality principle are two important milestones in development to attaching meaning to counting.
• The cardinality principle refers to the concept that the last counted number describes the total amount of the counted set. It is an extension of one-to-one correspondence.
All students should
• Read and write numerals from 0 through 15.
• Understand that the total number of objects
can be found by counting.
• Understand that the last counted number describes the total amount in the set.
• Understand that if the set is empty, it has 0 elements.
• Understand that changing the spatial arrangement of a set of objects does not change the total amount of the set.
The student will use problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, connections, and representations to
• Count orally the number of objects in a set containing 15 or fewer concrete objects, using one-to-one correspondence, and identify the corresponding numeral.
• Identify written numerals from 0 through 15 represented in random order.
• Select the numeral from a given set of numerals that corresponds to a set of 15 or fewer concrete objects.
• Write the numerals from 0 through 15. • Write a numeral that corresponds to a set of 15 or fewer
concrete objects.
• Construct a set of objects that corresponds to a given numeral, including an empty set.
Teaching the Standard (Activities for Students)
Books:
1 Baby, 2 Cats, 3 Trucks: My Counting Book. By David Deihl. Lark Books. 22p. ( 9781600591150). Gr. K. This is just a simple counting book, but children are mesmerized by the illustrations and it would be fun to have at a station.
10 Apples on Top. By Theo Le Sieg. (1961) 72p. Beginner Books (9780394800196) Gr K-2. This fun, classic book has animals competing to see who can balance the most apples on their heads. Children learn to count to ten and gain some knowledge in the relationship between the word ten and ten objects.
One Gorilla: A Counting Book. By Atsuko Morizini. Illus by author. (1993) 32p. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. (978-0374456467. Gr K-1. This book allows for student interaction by having the animals "hide" in the pages. The illustrations will capture young students and adults. It is a great resource for any classroom.
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten: A Counting Book. By Deborah Lee Rose. (2003) 30p. (978-0810945128) Gr PreK-1. Themed like the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" this book counts to twelve and kids really enjoy this book.
Lessons/Activities/Center Work
Apples and Worms cards. Have these cards and some playdough out at a table and you now have a counting station! Students count the number of holes in the apples, then they make the same number of playdough worms.
Dots and Dots. This worksheet helps get students to a point where they can not only count a number of objects, but helps to work on subitizing. This game can be played
Grab and Count Mats. This is a fun hands on idea to get students counting actual objects. Place some objects on the hands then have students grab handfuls of them to count. Also these allow for opportunities to differentiate since you can place different amounts of objects on the mats depending on student ability.
Electronic Resources:
Count Your Chickens. This PBSkids game features Curious George. Help George count the chicks in his pen. Lots of fun for younger children, and possibly a way to bring in more reluctant students, because come on, who doesn't love a cartoon monkey?
Rosita's Fiesta. Rosita is having a party, how many items does she need for her friends? Help her by clicking on her items until you have enough for each guest.
Sid the Science Kid: Harvesting Vegetables: Another character to engage students. This game is great because students click to move and count each object.
Assessment Tools
Circle the Number. The third worksheet down on this page is a great counting assessment tool. Students will count the number of objects then circle the corresponding number.
Counting Bugs. This worksheet is a good assessment tool, and could also make for a good station or small group activity. As an assessment students could glue their bugs down and write out the number to turn in to the teacher.
Star Flash Cards. Here's a quick assessment that can be used during small group time. Just take your flash cards and work with students automaticity and subitization.
Understanding the Standard (for Instructor's use)
• Counting involves two separate skills: verbalizing the list of standard number words in order (“one, two, three, ...”) and connecting this sequence with the objects in the set being counted, using one-to-one correspondence. Association of number words with collections of objects is achieved by moving, touching, or pointing to objects as the number words are spoken. Objects may be presented in random order or arranged for easy counting.
• Kinesthetic involvement (e.g., tracing the numbers, using tactile materials, such as sand, sandpaper, carpeting, or finger paint) facilitates the writing of numerals.
• Articulating the characteristics of each numeral when writing numbers has been found to reduce the amount of time it takes to learn to write numerals.
• Zero (0) is both a number and a digit. As a number, it plays a central role in mathematics as the additive identity of the integers, real numbers, and many other algebraic structures. As a digit, zero is used as a placeholder in systems.
• Conservation of number and cardinality principle are two important milestones in development to attaching meaning to counting.
• The cardinality principle refers to the concept that the last counted number describes the total amount of the counted set. It is an extension of one-to-one correspondence.
All students should
• Read and write numerals from 0 through 15.
• Understand that the total number of objects
can be found by counting.
• Understand that the last counted number describes the total amount in the set.
• Understand that if the set is empty, it has 0 elements.
• Understand that changing the spatial arrangement of a set of objects does not change the total amount of the set.
The student will use problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, connections, and representations to
• Count orally the number of objects in a set containing 15 or fewer concrete objects, using one-to-one correspondence, and identify the corresponding numeral.
• Identify written numerals from 0 through 15 represented in random order.
• Select the numeral from a given set of numerals that corresponds to a set of 15 or fewer concrete objects.
• Write the numerals from 0 through 15. • Write a numeral that corresponds to a set of 15 or fewer
concrete objects.
• Construct a set of objects that corresponds to a given numeral, including an empty set.
Teaching the Standard (Activities for Students)
Books:
1 Baby, 2 Cats, 3 Trucks: My Counting Book. By David Deihl. Lark Books. 22p. ( 9781600591150). Gr. K. This is just a simple counting book, but children are mesmerized by the illustrations and it would be fun to have at a station.
10 Apples on Top. By Theo Le Sieg. (1961) 72p. Beginner Books (9780394800196) Gr K-2. This fun, classic book has animals competing to see who can balance the most apples on their heads. Children learn to count to ten and gain some knowledge in the relationship between the word ten and ten objects.
One Gorilla: A Counting Book. By Atsuko Morizini. Illus by author. (1993) 32p. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. (978-0374456467. Gr K-1. This book allows for student interaction by having the animals "hide" in the pages. The illustrations will capture young students and adults. It is a great resource for any classroom.
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten: A Counting Book. By Deborah Lee Rose. (2003) 30p. (978-0810945128) Gr PreK-1. Themed like the song "Twelve Days of Christmas" this book counts to twelve and kids really enjoy this book.
Lessons/Activities/Center Work
Apples and Worms cards. Have these cards and some playdough out at a table and you now have a counting station! Students count the number of holes in the apples, then they make the same number of playdough worms.
Dots and Dots. This worksheet helps get students to a point where they can not only count a number of objects, but helps to work on subitizing. This game can be played
Grab and Count Mats. This is a fun hands on idea to get students counting actual objects. Place some objects on the hands then have students grab handfuls of them to count. Also these allow for opportunities to differentiate since you can place different amounts of objects on the mats depending on student ability.
Electronic Resources:
Count Your Chickens. This PBSkids game features Curious George. Help George count the chicks in his pen. Lots of fun for younger children, and possibly a way to bring in more reluctant students, because come on, who doesn't love a cartoon monkey?
Rosita's Fiesta. Rosita is having a party, how many items does she need for her friends? Help her by clicking on her items until you have enough for each guest.
Sid the Science Kid: Harvesting Vegetables: Another character to engage students. This game is great because students click to move and count each object.
Assessment Tools
Circle the Number. The third worksheet down on this page is a great counting assessment tool. Students will count the number of objects then circle the corresponding number.
Counting Bugs. This worksheet is a good assessment tool, and could also make for a good station or small group activity. As an assessment students could glue their bugs down and write out the number to turn in to the teacher.
Star Flash Cards. Here's a quick assessment that can be used during small group time. Just take your flash cards and work with students automaticity and subitization.