Teach counting to ten with a fun collection of free printables!
This post contains affiliate links.
Counting to ten feels so basic, doesn’t it?
It’s actually more complicated than you might think!
Just think about everything preschoolers are learning as they count …
- the stable order principle
- one-to-one-correspondence
- cardinality
- subitizing
That’s why young learners need many concrete counting experiences as they master counting to ten. This is a six-part series that will give you ideas and resource for teaching this important skill.
Teach counting to ten with free printables
You’ve asked for low-prep activities that use very little computer ink. I’ve heard you!
Each post in this series includes teaching tips and a simple black and white printable.
I recommend preparing each printable as it’s shared. Then store it in a bin with simple manipulatives. This way you can pull it out for fun counting practice at any time.
Our counting bin
Materials List
- Counters. We like teddy bear counters, Lego bricks, pennies, unifix cubes, glass gems, and transparent counters.
- Free printables. Just click on the posts below and find the download button to grab your freebie. I recommend printing on cardstock and laminating for durability.
- Preschool Math at Home (optional). This wonderful book was the inspiration for many of the activities in this series. If you want to help your child develop an understanding of the numbers up to ten, this guide is for you!
Just click on the image to take you to the post!
© 2017 – 2020, Anna G. All rights reserved.
Anu says
Dear Anna,
The printables look so good.Pictorial and so child friendly
Looking forward to printing,laminating and using them.
Thanks
Warm Regards
Anu
Anna Geiger says
I look forward to sharing them, Anu!
Juana says
Can’t wait! And we have that book and love it too! I love that you’re creating some more math activities- great for my little ones- any chance you can create more math concept activities for grade 1 and up?? 😊
Anna Geiger says
Any particular concept you’re looking for, Juana?
Sonja says
Hi Anna!
How are you?
I didn’t find the link to download the free printable.
Can you help me out?
Kind regards,
Sonja
Anna Geiger says
No free printables yet – this is the introductory post. 🙂 But check back in a few days and you’ll find the link to the first set. In six weeks you’ll have links to all six printables.
Donna says
This looks awesome!! I teach students in K-2nd grade with special needs and many of them function at a 2-3 year old level so this looks like it will be great to add to my daily instruction!
Thanks so much for all you create!
Donna
Anna Geiger says
Yay! Sounds like this series will be a great fit for your learners, Donna! 🙂
Jan Sheppard says
These look fantastic! I can’t wait. Thank you for sharing all your hard work!
Anna Geiger says
You’re welcome, Jan! Thanks for reading!
Donna Depner says
I get to school early so i can check out all the wonderful ideas. will be looking forward to receiving these great projects for class as I teach during summer months as well.
Anna Geiger says
I’m looking forward to sharing them with you, Donna! 🙂
Susan says
Hi Anna,
Looking forward to the other posts and freebies in your “counting to ten” series of posts and thank you so much! Looking ahead to the July 7th post about using 5- and 10-frames, I see the 10-frame is a single strip with 10 frames. In your neck of the woods, do you also use a 10-frame that has two rows with 5 frames in each? I teach in New Brunswick, and we use the latter. With amounts greater than 5 (say, 8 for example), the top row would be filled with a manip or dots and then three more frames get filled on the bottom row starting on the left side – can you picture that?! Students learn to tell the amount more accurately and efficiently because they subitize the top row as 5 and then count on the other three frames OR they may simply see that there are two empty squares and 8 is the number that is two less than ten. I have also visited the author’s website of ‘Preschool Math At Home’ and it is fantastic! She, too, uses a single strip for the 10-frame in her book. Regardless, there are lots of great ideas there! Sorry about the length of this comment….can you tell I’m supposed to be writing report cards right now?!! (We teach until June 23rd here!)
Susan 🙂
Anna Geiger says
Hi Susan! Yes, I definitely use 10 frames in the way you described and, in fact, usually use them that way. In the post I’ll share ways to use them both ways. 🙂 Hang in there… you’re almost done!!
Vanaja Sathiskumar says
You could use colored big buttons too for the counting games.Each of your ideas are unique.
Anna G says
Yes, buttons are such a fun manipulative!
Rachel Gerhartz says
Hi Anna!
Thanks for all the wonderful posts on counting to 10. Sure do appreciate your freebies. I wasn’t able to find the link to download the June 16 set so just wondering if I am missing something. Thanks again for sharing your great ideas!
Anna Geiger says
Hi Rachel! I need to link it up in this post, but here’s the link: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/free-printable-counting-mats/
Rebecca Sorg says
Thank you for doing this series. I think your Three and my Three are pretty close in age (DD is an early March birthday) so it’s great to see what you are currently doing with yours. I also love that so many of these things can be printed, laminated, and reused when my 2 and my soon to be newborn reach these ages. (I.e. I dont have to be able to find the worksheets again to reprint for them).
Anna G says
Sorry for the delay in answering your comment, Rebecca! You are right – my Three has an end of January birthday, so they are close in age. I’m so glad you’re findings things her to use with her and your other kids. I too am saving these for a younger sibling. 🙂
Cindi says
Anna,
Thanks so much for sharing these great math activities!! I am a kindergarten interventionist and many of the students that I see in groups begin kindergarten without number sense 1-10. I look forward to using these materials with my students in September.
Anna G says
I’m so glad to hear you can use these, Cindi!
melodie says
Thank you so much ms. Anna for sharing your hard work…It’s fantastic!
Anna G says
You’re very welcome, Melodie!