In the vibrant journey of early childhood education, one of the foundational skills children learn is counting. While many start with counting by ones, an engaging way to expand this skill is by teaching them to count by tens. This not only aids in understanding the concept of place value but also paves the way for future mathematical learning. Here, we explore five fun and effective strategies to make learning to count by tens both enjoyable and educational for kids.
1. The “Hopscotch Jump”
Transform the classic game of hopscotch into a dynamic learning tool. Draw or use a hopscotch grid that starts from zero and increases by tens. Each square can represent a number such as 10, 20, 30, etc. Here’s how it works:
- Children jump from square to square, shouting out the numbers as they go.
- You can introduce variations where they jump by skipping a number or jumping backwards to reinforce the sequence.
🐰 Note: This physical activity helps in retaining the concept through muscle memory and kinesthetic learning.
2. 10s Board Games
Customize or design board games where players advance based on multiples of ten. Use dice or a spinner that reflects these numbers:
- Create a game board with checkpoints at every 100 points, celebrating with a small reward or a cheer.
- Make it competitive by having children move their tokens by answering math problems or recognizing the tens multiples.
3. Storytelling with Tens
Stories and rhymes can be fantastic tools for learning:
- Tell a story where the characters or events increment by tens. For instance, “The tortoise could take ten steps to find his friends, then another ten to…”
- Encourage kids to add elements to the story, asking how many steps or what happened next in multiples of ten.
📚 Note: This method engages children’s imagination, making the counting by tens a memorable adventure.
4. Sorting by Tens
Introduce practical activities like sorting items into groups of ten:
- Use items like LEGO blocks, beads, or stickers, sorting them into jars or boxes in groups of ten.
- Ask kids to count the total number by counting the jars or boxes, reinforcing that each group represents “ten.”
5. Use of Technology - Apps and Videos
There are numerous educational apps and videos designed to teach counting:
- Find interactive apps with activities that involve counting by tens, often accompanied by sounds and visual cues.
- Videos can present catchy songs or animated sequences showing numbers growing by tens in engaging ways.
In conclusion, teaching kids to count by tens not only enriches their numerical literacy but also fosters their cognitive development through creative and interactive learning methods. These activities are not just about numbers; they encourage problem-solving, enhance memory, and promote social skills through shared activities. By weaving counting by tens into everyday play and learning, children will grasp this concept naturally, making it a fundamental part of their early educational journey.
Why is it important for kids to learn to count by tens?
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Learning to count by tens helps children understand the base-10 number system, which is essential for understanding larger numbers, place value, and making mathematical computations easier.
At what age should children start learning to count by tens?
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Children can start learning to count by tens around the age of 4-5, as this is when they typically begin to grasp more complex number concepts and sequences.
How can I tell if my child is ready to count by tens?
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Look for signs like your child being able to count up to 100, understanding the concept of more than or less than, and having basic counting skills in place.
Related Terms:
- Count by 10 worksheet pdf
- Free counting by 10s worksheet
- Count by 10 worksheets kindergarten
