Ten Little Explorers: Counting to 10

Materials Needed

• 10 small safe objects, such as blocks, toy animals, or large buttons
• Paper and crayons
• Number cards 1–10, or homemade paper cards
• One small bowl or basket
• Optional: music for a counting song

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Count objects from 1 to 10 in the correct order.
• Show a group of 10 objects.
• Recognize and name the numeral 10.
• Use words such as more, less, and ten when talking about groups of objects.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Touch each object one time while counting.
• Say the numbers 1 through 10 in order.
• Make a group with exactly 10 objects.
• Find or point to the number 10.

Introduction: The Mystery Basket

Time: 5 minutes

Place the objects in the basket. Say:

“Today we are number explorers! A mystery basket is hiding some treasures. Let’s find out how many treasures we have.”

Invite the child to take out one object at a time. Count together slowly:

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!”

Tell the child:

“Today we will learn about the number 10. Ten means we have ten things in our group.”

Body of the Lesson

I Do: Teacher or Adult Demonstration

Time: 5 minutes

1. Place the objects in a line.
2. Touch each object as you count.
3. Say, “The last number I say tells how many objects there are altogether.”
4. Show the numeral card 10.
5. Trace the number 10 in the air with your finger.

Explain in simple language:

“The number 10 has two parts: a 1 and a 0. Together, they make 10.”

Quick Check: Ask, “How many objects are in our group?” Encourage the child to answer, “Ten.”

We Do: Count and Move Together

Time: 10 minutes

Activity 1: Ten-Step Adventure

Choose a safe space. Take 10 steps together while counting aloud. Try other movements:

• 10 jumps
• 10 claps
• 10 taps on the table
• 10 wiggles

Pause after each activity and ask:

“Did we do more than 10, fewer than 10, or exactly 10?”

Activity 2: Build a Group of 10

Mix the objects together. Ask the child to place exactly 10 objects in a row or bowl.

Use guiding questions:

• “How many do you have so far?”
• “Should we add another one?”
• “Do you have 10 yet?”
• “How can we check?”

Count the objects together to check the answer. If the group has too many or too few, invite the child to fix it.

You Do: Number Explorer Choices

Time: 15 minutes

Let the child choose one or more activities.

Choice A: Number 10 Art

1. Write or trace the numeral 10 on paper.
2. Draw 10 dots, stars, flowers, or favorite animals.
3. Count the drawings aloud.

Choice B: Ten Treasure Hunt

Find 10 safe items around the home. The items may be toys, socks, blocks, or pencils. Place them together and count them carefully.

Choice C: Number Card Match

Place number cards 1–10 on the floor. Give the child a group of 10 objects. Ask the child to place the group beside the card showing 10.

Choice D: Make a Ten Train

Use blocks or toy cars to make a train with 10 pieces. Count each piece as it joins the train. The child may decorate the train or give it a name.

Formative Assessment: Stop and Check

During the activities, observe whether the child can:

• Say numbers in order from 1 to 10.
• Touch or move one object for each number said.
• Stop counting at 10.
• Recognize the numeral 10.

Give specific feedback:

• “You touched each block one time. That helped you count carefully.”
• “You noticed there were only 9. You added one more to make 10.”
• “You found the card with 1 and 0. That is the number 10.”

Real-World Connection

Explain that people use 10 every day:

• We have 10 fingers.
• A person may count 10 toys to make sure none are missing.
• A baker may put 10 cookies on a tray.
• A child may take 10 steps to reach a toy.

Ask: “Where can you find 10 things in our home?”

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned

Time: 5 minutes

Review the lesson by saying:

“Today we learned about 10. We counted 10 objects, moved 10 times, and found the number 10.”

Invite the child to complete these sentences:

• “I can count to ___.”
• “The number after 9 is ___.”
• “A group with 10 things has ___ things.”

Finish with a celebration:

“High five for 10! Let’s clap 10 times together.”

Summative Assessment

Ask the child to complete this short demonstration independently:

1. Count 10 objects.
2. Show which numeral means 10.
3. Make a group of exactly 10 objects.
4. Tell or show one way to use 10 in everyday life.

Mastery guideline: The child demonstrates the skill when they complete at least 3 of the 4 tasks with little or no help.

Differentiation and Support

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Begin with groups of 3–5 objects, then slowly build up to 10.
• Use larger objects and place them far apart so each one is easy to touch.
• Count together while the child points or moves each object.
• Provide a visual number line from 1 to 10.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Ask the child to make 10 in different ways, such as 6 blocks and 4 blocks.
• Ask, “What number comes before 10?” and “What number comes after 10?”
• Invite the child to compare a group of 10 with a group of 7 or 12.
• Have the child create a short story involving 10 objects.

Reflection for the Learner

Ask the child to choose one:

• “The most fun part was...”
• “Counting to 10 was...”
• “I used 10 when I...”