Preschool · Math · week 20

Count to 12 on the stairs

Extend counting to 12 using a physical, one-step-per-number context like stairs.

You can count higher than 10. Today you will count all the way to 12, one number for each stair step.

Stairs are perfect for counting because each step is a clear, separate thing to count.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • If you do not have real stairs, pretend steps in place (stepping side to side) work just as well.
  • Eleven and twelve do not sound like the "teen" numbers that follow - expect them to need extra repeats.
  • Hold the handrail and go slowly - safety first, counting second.
  • Count down the stairs too, for backward counting practice past 10.
Talk about it:
  • What number comes right after ten?
  • Can you count the stairs with me, one number per step?
  • Was eleven or twelve trickier to remember? Why do you think so?

Mastery looks like: Child counts to 12 accurately, matching one number to each step or object, without skipping eleven or twelve.

Common stumbles: Child forgets "eleven" and "twelve" and either repeats "ten" or jumps straight to "thirteen."

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Counting & Ten-FramesCount objects in ten-frames and base-ten blocks, one tap at a time.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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