Counting to 100 by Ones and by Tens

Count by ones

To count, say the numbers in the same order each time.

$$1, \; 2, \; 3, \; 4, \; 5, \; 6, \; 7, \; 8, \; 9, \; 10$$

Point to one dot for each number you say.

There are $10$ dots. Now keep going. The next ones are $11$, $12$, $13$, and on.

Count by tens

A ten-frame holds $10$ dots. When it is full, it shows a ten.

Count full frames by tens. Say $10$, $20$, $30$, $40$, $50$. Then say $60$, $70$, $80$, $90$, $100$.

That is ten tens. Ten tens make $100$.

Why counting by tens works

Each full frame has $10$ dots in it. So each ten you say skips ahead by $10$ in one step.

Say you count $3$ full frames by ones. You get to $30$. Now count them by tens: $10$, $20$, $30$. You land on $30$ once more.

The dots do not change. Only the way you count them does. Tens get you to the same place, but with far fewer steps.

Start at any number

You do not have to start at $1$. You can start from the number you have.

Say you have $7$ blocks. Then you get $3$ more. Do not start at $1$. Start at $7$ and count on: $8$, $9$, $10$. Now you have $10$ blocks.

This is called counting on.

Write the numbers

Here are the numbers from $0$ to $20$:

$$0 \quad 1 \quad 2 \quad 3 \quad 4 \quad 5 \quad 6 \quad 7 \quad 8 \quad 9 \quad 10$$ $$11 \quad 12 \quad 13 \quad 14 \quad 15 \quad 16 \quad 17 \quad 18 \quad 19 \quad 20$$

The number $0$ means none. A plate with no grapes on it has $0$ grapes.

Worked examples

Common mistakes

Practice problems