Activity 1: Counting

These activities may be used independently, in pairs, or as class activities on a range of digital devices such as an interactive whiteboard, laptop, i-pad, etc.

Purpose

The purpose of this activity is to help students to recognise the whole numbers from 1 to 100, to visualise and communicate patterns in numbers, and to develop a range of counting strategies with whole numbers.

Activities

Using the hundreds board students could be asked to:

  1. Say each number aloud as the squares are selected counting from 1 to 100.
  2. Select any number and count to 100 from there.
  3. Look for patterns by moving 1 to left, right, up, down
  4. Explain how the numbers in a row are related to each other and how the numbers in a column relate to each other.
  5. Count backwards from 100.
  6. Choose any starting point and count backwards.
  7. Play ‘Race to 100’:
    Rules: Take turns to throw a dice and count on that number on the hundreds board.  If the correct landing place is predicted before moving (without counting squares!), then one extra space may be moved as a bonus. The first person to reach or pass 100 wins the game.
  8. Count in twos, saying each number aloud. Describe the pattern that is made on the hundreds board. State the name given to these numbers (even numbers). State the name given to all the numbers that are not shaded (odd numbers).
    Repeat this process by counting in 3s, 4s, up to 10s.
  9. Count by any multiple starting at an unusual place. For example count by 5, starting at 18, or count by 2, starting at 37. For a tougher challenge, practise mental subtraction skills by counting down by the number a selected number.
  10. Be introduced to the concept of rounding to the nearest 10.
    Select a number, then ask, “Which 10 is this number closer to?”

Activity 1 counting (PDF, 56 KB)

Activity 1 counting (Word 2007, 12 KB)