Lesson Plan
Count Big Numbers Lesson Plan
Students will be able to count, read, and write numbers to 120, starting at any number less than 120, by understanding the concept of tens and ones.
Counting larger numbers helps students build a strong foundation for understanding place value, addition, and subtraction, making everyday math tasks easier and more fun!
Audience
1st Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on grouping and interactive slides.
Materials
Manipulatives (e.g., craft sticks, base ten blocks, unifix cubes), Rubber bands (for grouping), Warm Up: How Many?, Counting Big Numbers Slide Deck, Tens and Ones Grouping Activity, Count to 120 Worksheet, Count to 120 Worksheet Answer Key, and Cool Down: Exit Ticket
Prep
Prepare Materials & Review
10 minutes
- Gather manipulatives such as craft sticks, unifix cubes, or base ten blocks (approximately 120 per student or pair).
- Prepare rubber bands if using craft sticks for bundling.
- Review the Count Big Numbers Lesson Plan, Counting Big Numbers Slide Deck, Warm Up: How Many?, Tens and Ones Grouping Activity, Count to 120 Worksheet, Count to 120 Worksheet Answer Key, and Cool Down: Exit Ticket to familiarize yourself with the content and flow. Ensure all digital materials are accessible.
Step 1
Warm-Up: How Many?
5 minutes
- Begin the lesson by projecting the Warm Up: How Many? on the board.
2. Ask students to quickly estimate and then count the number of objects (e.g., stars, dots) displayed.
3. Facilitate a brief discussion on their counting strategies. Did anyone group items to count faster?
Step 2
Introduce Counting by Tens and Ones
10 minutes
- Present the Counting Big Numbers Slide Deck.
2. Use the slides to introduce the concept of counting by making groups of ten.
3. Demonstrate with a small number of manipulatives (e.g., 23 craft sticks). Group 10 sticks with a rubber band, then another 10, leaving 3 individual sticks.
4. Explain that counting by tens makes it easier to count larger numbers. Count together: "Ten, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three."
Step 3
Tens and Ones Grouping Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute manipulatives to each student or pair.
2. Instruct students to work on the Tens and Ones Grouping Activity. They will be given a number and asked to group their manipulatives into tens and then count the remaining ones.
3. Circulate around the classroom, providing support and asking guiding questions like, "How many groups of ten can you make? How many are left over?"
Step 4
Independent Practice: Count to 120 Worksheet
5 minutes
- Hand out the Count to 120 Worksheet for independent practice.
2. Students will practice counting objects arranged in groups of ten and then individually.
3. Collect worksheets for assessment. The Count to 120 Worksheet Answer Key can be used for grading.
Step 5
Cool-Down: Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Conclude the lesson with the Cool Down: Exit Ticket.
2. Ask students to write down a number (e.g., 47) and draw how they would count it using groups of tens and ones.
3. Collect exit tickets to gauge student understanding of the lesson's objective.
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Warm Up
Warm Up: How Many?
Look at the picture below! Quickly estimate: How many items do you see?
Now, try to count them! What strategy did you use to count them quickly?
(Teacher Note: You can display an image with a collection of 30-50 small, identical objects like stars, dots, or apples for students to estimate and count.)
Slide Deck
Counting Super Squad!
How many can you count? Let's learn to count REALLY big numbers!
Greet students and start with an engaging question to activate prior knowledge about counting.
Too Many To Count?
Imagine you have a big pile of candy! It's hard to count them all one by one.
What if we could make it easier?
Introduce the idea that large numbers can be tricky to count one by one. Ask for student ideas on how to make it easier.
The Power of Ten!
Our superpower is grouping!
We can put 10 things together to make a group of ten.
Explain the concept of 'groups of ten'. Use visuals to show 10 individual items forming one group of ten. Emphasize that 'ten' means one group.
Tens and Ones Together
First, we count the groups of ten.
Then, we count the ones that are left over.
2 groups of ten + 3 ones = 23
Demonstrate counting with groups of ten and then adding the ones. Use a clear example, like 2 bundles of ten sticks and 3 loose sticks for 23.
Let's Practice!
Look at these! How many groups of ten do you see?
How many ones are left?
What number is it?
(Example: Show image of 4 bundles of ten and 6 loose items)
Show an example using a different number, like 46. Count together: 10, 20, 30, 40, then 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46.
Counting Up to 120!
We can count all the way to 120 using our tens and ones!
(Show a partial hundreds chart, up to 120, highlighting numbers that end in 0 and 5, or groups of ten.)
Introduce counting up to 120 using a hundreds chart or similar visual. Highlight the pattern of tens and ones.
Your Turn, Super Counters!
Now it's your turn to be a Counting Super Squad member!
We will use our materials to make groups of ten and count big numbers!
Transition to the activity. Explain that students will get to be 'Counting Super Squad' members and practice with their own materials.
Activity
Tens and Ones Grouping Activity
Instructions:
- You will get a number from your teacher.
- Use your manipulatives (like craft sticks or blocks) to show that number.
- Group your manipulatives into bundles of ten. Use rubber bands if you have them!
- Count your groups of ten first, then count the ones that are left over.
- Write down how many groups of ten and how many ones you have.
Example: If your number is 23:
- You would make 2 groups of ten.
- You would have 3 ones left over.
Your Turn!
Number 1: 35
How many groups of ten?
How many ones left over?
Number 2: 42
How many groups of ten?
How many ones left over?
Number 3: 58
How many groups of ten?
How many ones left over?
Number 4: 61
How many groups of ten?
How many ones left over?
(Teacher Note: You can give students different numbers to work with, up to 120, or have them choose their own.)
Worksheet
Count to 120 Worksheet
Name: __________________________
Date: __________________________
Instructions:
- Count the objects in each box.
- Circle groups of ten to help you count faster!
- Write the total number.
1. How many stars?
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Total:
2. How many circles?
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵 🔵
Total:
3. How many squares?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩
Total:
4. Draw to show the number.
Draw 74 objects. Circle your groups of ten.
Answer Key
Count to 120 Worksheet Answer Key
1. How many stars?
- There are 5 rows of 10 stars, plus 3 individual stars.
- 5 groups of ten = 50
- 3 ones = 3
- Total: 53
2. How many circles?
- There are 6 rows of 10 circles, plus 6 individual circles.
- 6 groups of ten = 60
- 6 ones = 6
- Total: 66
3. How many squares?
- There are 11 rows of 10 squares, plus 7 individual squares.
- 11 groups of ten = 110
- 7 ones = 7
- Total: 117
4. Draw to show the number.
Draw 74 objects. Circle your groups of ten.
- Students should draw 7 groups of 10 objects (e.g., circles, squares) and 4 individual objects. Each group of 10 should be clearly circled.
Cool Down
Cool Down: Exit Ticket
Name: __________________________
Date: __________________________
1. Show 47.
Draw a picture to show the number 47 using groups of tens and ones. Circle your groups of ten!