Counting On
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Help your children understand that they can employ different strategies to add. They can draw pictures, use tally marks, use a number line or a hundred chart, use mental math, and more. This topic explores the strategy of counting on 0, 1, 2, and 3. It also introduces how to form an addition number sentence and presents the symbols and vocabulary associated with addition equations, including the plus sign (+), the equal sign (=), and the sum. The topic also investigates the commutative property of addition, which states that switching the order of the addends does not affect the sum, and the zero property of addition, which states that adding 0 to a number leaves it unchanged. BrainPOP Jr. plans on producing more math movies that focus on specific strategies and concepts, such as making a ten, doubles facts, and related fact families.

Practice counting up to 12 with your children, starting with 0. You may want to count using dried beans, marbles, beads, or other manipulatives. Then write the numbers on a number line together, from 0 to 12. Present your children with three counters and have them count them out loud. Then add 1 more counter to the group. How many counters are there now? You can count them together again. Explain that to make counting easier, they can start with 3 and count on 1 to get to 4. You can show counting on 1 by using the number line or hundred chart. Present your children with a different group of counters and add 1 more to the group. Repeat the activity several times until your children see a pattern: when you count on 1, the number goes up by 1. Encourage your children to create their own group of counters and add one more to the group. What is the total? What happens if you add 1 to a group of 9 counters?

Now present your children with 5 counters and add 2 more to the group. How many counters are there in all? Demonstrate that you can count each counter starting at one, or you can start with 5 and add on 2: 6, 7. There are 7 counters in all. Ask your children to discuss which strategy was faster and why? We recommend modeling vocabulary that students may encounter in addition problems, such as in all, all together, or in total. These key phrases will be useful when they solve word problems, although they should know that they do not always signify that it is an addition problem. You may wish to show how you added the groups by using a number line. Explain that they can write a number sentence to show how the groups were added: 5 + 2 = 7. Remind children that the plus sign (+) means to add. Point to the 7 and explain that the total of an addition number sentence is called the sum. Practice counting on 2 from other numbers and model writing addition number sentences. Then have children create their own group of counters, add 2 more to the group, and write an equation to show how they added. You may want to explore number sentences where the sum is equal to or greater than 10, such as 8 + 2, 9 + 2, or 10 + 2.

Present your children with 6 counters and add 3 more to the group. How many counters are there all together? Instead of counting from one, you can start with 6 and count on 3: 7, 8, 9. There is a total of 9 counters. Write the number sentence 6 + 3 = 9 together. Help your children understand that the order they add the groups does not matter. They can start with 3 and count on 6. Swap the positions of the groups of counters to show that 6 + 3 and 3 + 6 both equal 9. Practice counting on 3 from different numbers and writing equations. Have children swap the position of the addends and see if they still arrive at the same sum. With some practice, children usually notice that it is easier to count on from the larger number. If your children do not notice this on their own, you may want to use a number line to demonstrate that it is quicker to count on from the larger number. We recommend exploring number sentences such as 9 + 3, 8 + 3, and 7 + 3, where the sum is greater than 10 so children can practice working with numbers with a digit in the tens place.

The concept of zero can be confusing to some children. Remind them that zero means nothing. You may want to explain the concept using a silly sentence such as "There are zero elephants in this room." Have children come up with their own silly sentences. Present a group of 9 counters and explain that you will not add more counters to the group. How many counters are there in all? Explain how the number does not change if you add nothing. Write the number sentence: 9 + 0 = 9. Now present your children with no counters. How many do you have? You have zero counters. Then add 3 counters. How many counters do you have now? The answer is 3. Challenge children to come up with a number sentence to show how you added: 0 + 3 = 3.

Counting on is just one strategy that children can utilize to solve math problems. Remind your children that there is more than one way to come up with an answer. Encourage them to experiment with their own strategies, look for patterns, and find different ways of manipulating numbers. Turn math into a fun experience where children can explore and play with numbers.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Counting On Teacher Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Get on the Bus!

Line up chairs like seats on a bus. You can act as the bus driver and sit in the front. You can even use a hoop or a plate as the steering wheel. Then have a group of students get on the bus. Pretend to pick up 1, 2, or 3 more students. As the bus driver, ask the class to find out how many people are on the bus. "There were 5 students on the bus, and then 2 more students got on. How many students are on the bus now?" Have volunteers write a number sentence on the board. Continue with more examples and have other students take the driver's seat and create the story problem.

Math Stories

Choose an addition number sentence, such as 8 + 2 = 10. Then challenge your students to write or tell a story that describes the number sentence. You can provide a model, such as "Once upon a time there were 8 mice who lived in a forest. One day, 2 mice from the city came to visit. All the mice had a picnic together. The 10 mice had fun playing." Encourage your students to be creative. You may wish to have small groups or pairs create a story together and act it out in front of the class.

What's in the Bag?

Give small groups a lunch bag. Have one student put counters inside the bag and writ the number on the front of the bag. Then have him or her present 0, 1, 2, or 3 additional counters. Have other students add to find the sum. The bag prevents students from counting each item one by one. Have group members work together to find the sum and use different strategies. You may want to provide number lines or hundred charts to help students add. Then have students swap roles until everyone has had a chance to put counters into the bag.

Counting On Family Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Snacking On 1, 2, or 3

Almost every meal is an opportunity to have fun with math. Provide a small group of healthful snacks such as raisins, grapes, pretzels, or nuts. Present a group of raisins to your child and have him or her count on 1, 2, or 3 raisins to find the total. Write the number sentence together. You may want to let you child write the number sentence in yogurt on a plate, then wipe it away with the counters and eat them all as a snack.

May I Have One More?

Form a group of treats or toys and count them together. Then ask your child, "May I have one more, please?" Have your child add to the group and count up by one. You can repeat the activity asking for two or three more. Then you can switch roles with your child.