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Counting Carry-On

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Lesson Plan

Counting Carry-On Lesson Plan

Students will practice counting objects from 1–10 using manipulatives in a portable carry-on bag to reinforce number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.

This Tier 3 individual activity provides hands-on reinforcement of foundational counting skills for kindergarteners, boosting confidence and addressing learning gaps with engaging manipulatives.

Audience

Kindergarten

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Hands-on counting with manipulatives and guided practice.

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Set Up and Introduction

2 minutes

  • Welcome the student and introduce the Counting Carry-On bag
  • Show each item: bears, number cards, and mats
  • Explain that they will pick a number card and count out bears one by one

Step 2

Demonstration

3 minutes

  • Model selecting a number card (e.g., “5”)
  • Place five bears on a mat, pointing to each as you count aloud
  • Emphasize one-to-one correspondence: one bear per number

Step 3

Independent Practice

8 minutes

  • Invite the student to select a number card from 1–10
  • Have them count out that many bears onto a mat, pointing and saying each number
  • Circulate, observe, and provide prompts for correct counting
  • Use mats to support one-to-one correspondence as needed

Step 4

Review and Reflection

2 minutes

  • Ask the student to show their favorite number they counted
  • Prompt: “How many bears did you count?”
  • Offer praise for effort and accuracy
  • Note any numbers needing extra practice for future lessons
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Activity

Counting Carry-On Activity

This collection of printable materials for the Counting Carry-On activity helps students practice counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence with manipulatives.

Materials:

Counting Carry-On Activity Cards

10 cards, each featuring:

  • A large numeral (1–10)
  • A matching set of bear illustrations for students to count

Prompt for students: “Pick a card, count the bears, then find the matching number card.”












Number Cards 1-10

Ten bold, large-font cards displaying the numerals 1 through 10. These cards support number recognition and serve as a matching reference when counting bears.







One-to-One Correspondence Mats

Colorful mats with ten empty circles arranged in a row. Students place one bear in each circle as they count aloud, reinforcing one-to-one correspondence.












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Worksheet

Number Match Worksheet

Use your Counting Carry-On materials (Counting Bears and One-to-One Correspondence Mats) to help you complete the exercises below.

1. Count and Write the Number

Look at each group of bears. Count them and write the correct number in the box.

🐻🐻🐻 □□___□□

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 □□___□□

🐻🐻 □□___□□

2. Match and Draw a Line

On the left are groups of bears. On the right are number cards. Draw a line from each group to the matching number.

A. 🐻🐻🐻🐻

B. 🐻🐻

C. 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻

      1. 4       2. 2       3. 6







3. Trace the Numbers

Trace each number carefully.

1    2    3    4    5

.1._    .2._    .3._    .4._    .5._



Great job! Show your work to the teacher when you’re done.

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Slide Deck

Counting Carry-On

A hands-on, individual math activity (15 minutes) using a portable carry-on bag filled with manipulatives to practice counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence.

Welcome educators! Introduce yourself and the Counting Carry-On activity. Emphasize this is a quick, fun one-on-one math activity for kindergarten students.

Objectives & Materials

Objectives:

  • Count objects from 1–10 aloud
  • Reinforce one-to-one correspondence
  • Build number recognition skills

Materials:

Walk through the objectives and point to each material. Show real examples of the cards and mats.

Step 1: Demonstration

  1. Select a number card (e.g., “5”).
  2. Place five bears on the mat, one in each circle.
  3. Point to each bear and count aloud: “One, two, three, four, five.”
  4. Highlight one-to-one correspondence: one bear = one number.

Demonstrate slowly and narrate each step. Emphasize placing one bear per circle and counting aloud.

Step 2: Independent Practice

  1. Student picks a number card (1–10).
  2. They count out that many bears on the mat.
  3. Student points and says each number aloud.
  4. Teacher observes and supports as needed.

Encourage the student to try. Circulate, observe, and offer gentle prompts if they skip or repeat numbers.

Step 3: Review & Reflection

• Ask: “Which number did you enjoy counting most?”
• Prompt: “How many bears did you count?”
• Praise effort and accuracy.
• Record any numbers needing extra practice.

Use open-ended questions to prompt reflection. Note any numbers that were challenging for targeted follow-up.

You’re Ready to Count!

Let’s pack up the carry-on bag and get ready for more counting adventures!

Next: Apply this activity to groups of numbers or introduce simple addition.

Wrap up the session with positive reinforcement and next steps.

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Script

Counting Carry-On Script

1. Set Up and Introduction (2 minutes)

Teacher: "Hello, [Student Name]! Today we’re going to play with our special Counting Carry-On bag. Inside this bag are some counting bears, number cards from 1 to 10, and our one-to-one correspondence mat. We’ll pick a number card, count out that many bears, and place each bear in a circle as we say each number aloud."

Teacher: "Are you ready to see why counting can be so much fun?" (Pause for student response.)

2. Demonstration (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Watch me first. I’m going to choose a number card…" (Teacher selects the number 5 card and holds it up.) "This card shows the number five. Now I’ll place five bears on the mat. As I put each bear down, I’ll count out loud."

Teacher: "One…" (Places the first bear.) "Two…" (Places the second bear.) "Three… Four… Five!" (Finishes placing the fifth bear.)

Teacher: "One bear for each number—this is called one-to-one correspondence. Did you see how I matched one bear to each number?"

3. Independent Practice (8 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it’s your turn! Reach into the bag and pick a number card. Which card did you pick?" (Wait for student to name the number.)

Teacher: "Great choice! Let’s count that many bears together. Place one bear in a circle, then tell me the number you say."

(Teacher observes. If the student hesitates, prompt gently.)
Teacher: "Remember, let’s count together: One, two… How many do you have now?"

(If the student skips a number or repeats, hold up a finger or pause and ask:) Teacher: "Can you show me the bears you’ve placed and count them again with me? Let’s go slowly. One… two… three…"

Teacher: "Fantastic! You’re doing a wonderful job matching each bear to a number and counting them out loud."

4. Review and Reflection (2 minutes)

Teacher: "You did an amazing job counting today! Which number did you enjoy counting the most?" (Pause.)

Teacher: "How many bears did you count for that number?" (Pause.)

Teacher: "Wow—counting to [student’s number] so carefully shows you’ve learned one-to-one correspondence. Great work!"

Teacher: "I noticed you were especially strong with the number [or: we might practice X again next time]. Keep up the excellent work!"

Teacher: "Let’s pack up our bears, cards, and mat back into the Carry-On bag. That way we’ll be all set for our next counting adventure. You’re ready to count anytime!"

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