“Counting Counters (to 20)”
KNPIG ID #A 3301.2
What's this activity about?
Using anything from around the house, your child will work to tell the total of two groups of items when one set of items is covered. This activity helps build familiarity and efficiency with addition fluency within 20.
What materials do we need?
20 of any type of counter: pennies, bingo markers, oyster crackers, dry beans, etc.
How do we play?
Randomly arrange between seven and nine of one type of counter for your child to see and then screen them. Next, arrange between two and five of the other type of counter for your child to see, and then screen them. Ask your child how many counters there are altogether.
Where’s the Math?
There is a lot of math in this game that goes along with what your child is learning in school. Your child is learning how to combine groups of items to come up with a total. He/she is also learning how to remember and use different methods when those items are shown, and then covered. This encourages him/her to begin to use mental strategies to fluently add and subtract and move from counting from one, to working with totals to make new totals.
Things to Think About:
As always when working with children, be patient. Your child will typically count at this stage and may use other objects to replace the counters when they are hidden. Try to notice how they are counting: using fingers, head nodding or tapping. Ask your child how he/she is coming up with answers. Discussing and thinking about how to work through problems will help him/her find mistakes and build on strengths. If he/she understand what method works for them, it will help him/her also become faster and more confident in his/her answers.
This game is a great way to relate math to real life. Your child is learning now how math will show up in everyday life. Make the connections while he/she is young and it will be easier to see it when working with more difficult math concepts. Ask your child about combing different objects into groups. Count two types of fruit separately and then together, or count the number of cars and trucks separately and all together at a stop light. Try to have him/her close his/her eyes to picture how many without actually looking at the objects for a bigger challenge! Making math relatable makes it more interesting and fun for kids.
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