Developing number sense and one-to-one correspondence are among some of the most critical math skills learned in the preschool years. With hands-on and exciting activities, plus a detailed scope and sequence for the whole unit, these counting 0-10 lesson plans for preschoolers help your youngest learners gain confidence with numbers.
Preschool Counting 0-10 Activities & Lesson Plans
When I sat down to create a preschool math curriculum, I focused heavily on ensuring that the lessons, activities, and centers were designed to develop the math skills of every. child.
I knew it needed to spiral and review key concepts multiple times throughout the year, gradually increasing in difficulty. This approach is ideal because it covers math topics throughout the entire year. This allows children more time for mastery and an opportunity to increase the rigor of each lesson.
Developing number sense skills is a bulky demand and for some children, it doesn’t come easily or naturally. Repetition and practice are the name of the game in the math world. Once learning to count to five is mastered, children move into counting to 10 and more complex number sense skills including comparing numbers, finding more and less, and number order. We have thought of everything you need in our lesson plans on counting for preschoolers.
These preschool or kindergarten counting 0-10 lesson plans are perfect for helping you plan engaging and developmentally appropriate lessons and activities for your students without loads of prep and time.
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FAQ About Teaching Counting to Preschoolers
Children have an innate sense of number. They hear numbers and counting from birth when parents inevitably say, “Two more minutes!” All kidding aside, learning to count is the first stage in math development and it is easily fostered with everyday counting practice and hands-on practice.
Number sense refers to the understanding of how numbers work, not just simple counting. It will take some time for children to master these important skills. Number sense develops through multiple skills and requires lots of practice and repetition.
Preschool counting activities are embedded in daily life! Count the cars parked in the parking lot or the flowers growing in the weeds. Using hands-on manipulatives and fun counters can turn simple counting activities into counting games that your preschoolers beg to play. Singing math songs and reading books about math concepts also gives children extra math practice.
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Hands-On Supplies for Counting 0-10
This curriculum is designed to be low-prep and utilize the same supplies during each math unit. Buy it once, and use them over and over again for different learning purposes! Take a look at some of the resources we use for each unit. These items are staples for any early childhood math curriculum.
All About Counting 0-10 Lesson Plans
These counting 0-10 lesson plans for preschoolers are designed for up to a five-day-week program, but activities within a week can be removed and skipped for two or three-day-week programs. There are lots of counting games and learning activities that develop number sense and number recognition, plus develop one-to-one correspondence.
Discovery Activities/Math Photo Cards
The discovery activities are super fun! Each week contains a real photograph or illustration for the children to interact with. The photo relates to the concept and encourages oral language and math vocabulary development. Plus, the vibrant photos expose children to different places, animals, and cultures. It’s easy to see that math really is everywhere in our daily lives!
The math photo card example below shows an assortment of colored candles. A look at this engaging photo invites young learners to see how many candles they see all together, how many of the blue, pink, white, or yellow candles they see, as well as, being able to answer questions about them. The mathematical points reference which color has the greatest or least and helps children develop number sense. Each photo card includes mathematical points, teaching tips, and engaging questions to encourage your children to think about each photo through a mathematical lens.
Daily Dip
The daily dip is a review activity to reinforce previously taught skills. You will notice valuable teaching tips throughout the review lessons. These tips offer insight to help execute specific strategies in
the lessons. This section is optional depending on time and student needs but is certainly a valuable component of each day.
The photo below shows examples of the first week of the counting to 10 lesson plans for preschoolers. These activities include counting, sorting, and matching which were taught in previous units to ensure exposure and practice to essential math skills all year long.
Teach and Engage
The teach and engage section is a brand new daily lesson for your students packed with new learning. This component of the curriculum includes lots of modeling and student interaction. Each counting lesson plan includes a bonus section that offers tips on how to make the lesson more challenging and provides extensions for children who are ready for more difficulty.
Counting 0-10 Centers for Preschoolers
Shape centers and games are invaluable in preschool. We have included lots of hands-on shape games and math activities for pre-k that allow children to independently practice with engaging manipulatives. Remember independent centers should always be supervised in preschool and kindergarten.
Spin and Build Ten Frame Counting
This center reinforces one-to-one correspondence skills within a ten frame. This center invites children to spin the spinner, identify the numeral, and add that number counters to their ten frame card. Then repeat! Preschool counting activities that reinforce ten frames help children to quickly recognize dot patterns which is also known as subitizing.
Ten Frame Puzzles
This number game focuses on building subitizing skills as well as visual discrimination between ten frame cards. Invite the child to sort the numeral puzzle pieces from the ten frame puzzle pieces. If needed, invite the child to place a math counter over each dot on the ten frame. Encourage the child to find the matching numeral and piece it together. This center also includes a bonus 11-20 set for advanced students.
Ten Frame Number Match
This ten frame number match activity is perfect for an independent center and a quick way to check in with students on mastery. They simply count or recall the dot pattern and match the numeral to each card. For students that are ready for more advanced math practice, they can combine two ten frame cards to determine the teen number and work on building ’10 and some more’ to make a teen number.
Ten Frame Towers
This math game is such a blast because children love making snap cube towers all over their mats! After counting how many dots are on the ten frame, they make the corresponding snap cube tower. Then, repeat until each ten frame is covered. Afterward, children can visually see which tower is the fewest and which is the greatest. The children can manipulate the towers from least to greatest or vice versa, as well.
Ten Frame Four in a Row
We love this counting game for preschool because it feels a lot like bingo and it’s always a big hit! Children select a ten frame card and then find the matching numeral on the mat. Lastly, they cover that space with a colored counter or pom poms and continue playing until they have four in a row. This center reinforces subitizing and counting skills through play.
Ten Frame Tracing Cards
This fun counting activity helps build number recognition 1-10 and invites children to learn correct numeral formation and use hands-on math manipulatives. Children will grab a ten frame tracing mat and count out that number by placing a snap cube on each ten frame dot. Then they will combine them together to make a number tower. Using a dry-erase marker, trace the numeral and the number word.
Ten Frame Clip Cards
This number activity is designed for children to practice counting and learn to count carefully too. They will clip the number that matches the ten frame. This center requires children to do error analysis if they count and the number they counted is not an option. Additionally, this center can be seld-checking by adding a dot on the back of the correct answer.
0-10 Count and Build Mats
This center is all about recognizing numerals and one-to-one correspondence. Children can count the snap cubes and create their own towers. Using a dry-erase marker, they can trace the numeral and practice reading the number word. Also, you can also incorporate play dough or interesting counters instead of snap cubes. Students love to smash the playdough balls onto each snap cube too!
Math to Literacy Connections
As shown below, we have included eight optional literacy activities that infuse math picture books. Children learn best through colorful illustrations and storytelling. These eight picture books bring shapes to life and build upon other math skills (counting, colors, patterns) as well.
Grab these fantastic books about shapes here!
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo by Eric Carle
1, 2, 3, Va-Va-Vroom by Sarah Lynn
10 Black Dots by Donald Crews
One is a Pinata by Roseanne Thong
Over in the Ocean in the Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes
From the Garden by Michael Dahl
10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle
Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole
Get Your Counting 0-10 Lesson Plans for Preschoolers Here
The daily lessons in counting 0-10 are completed and ready to use! Filled with daily lesson plans, centers, activities, and even literacy connections, this counting math unit is all you’ll need for your preschool lessons.
Looking for a Preschool Math Curriculum for the Whole Year?
We’ve got you covered! From sorting to graphing, counting to shapes, this preschool math curriculum is loaded with engaging activities, literacy connections, and daily photo cards to spark joy in math.
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I am an educator, book enthusiast, and a stay at home momma to two precious and long-awaited littles. My degree is in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum and Instruction and I have spent the last 15 years working with young children. I feel very fortunate to have this time to watch my babies grow and I can’t wait to share my passion for learning and reading with you!
