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Kindergarten · K.CC.B.5

Counting to 20 in kindergarten

Counting to 20 in kindergarten means more than saying the numbers. Your child answers "How many?" about real things: up to 20 objects in a line, in rows or in a circle, and up to 10 objects scattered on a table. Your child also learns to count out a number, such as 8 napkins for the table.

What the standard says

The official Common Core wording, quoted exactly. The plain version follows.

K.CC.B.5 Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.

What it means, in plain words

Counting objects to 20 depends on how the objects are laid out. A straight line is the easiest, because it has a clear start and end. Rows are a little harder. Your child has to finish one row and then move to the start of the next one, like reading a page.

A circle has no start or end, so your child has to remember where the count began. Scattered objects are the hardest, which is why kindergarten keeps scattered groups to 10. Children who count well move or mark each object as they count it.

The other half of the skill runs the other way. You say a number, and your child counts out that many objects from a bigger pile and stops. Stopping at the right number is the hard part, because many children keep going as long as there are objects left.

Your child should be able to:

  • Count up to 20 objects in a line, in rows or in a circle
  • Count up to 10 objects scattered on a table
  • Keep track of where a count started in a circle
  • Count out a given number of objects from a bigger pile and stop

Example

A box of crayons has 2 rows with 8 crayons in each row. How many crayons are there?

  1. Start at the left end of the top row and count across: 1 to 8.
  2. Move to the left end of the bottom row and keep counting: 9, 10 and on up to 16.
  3. There are 16 crayons in the box.

Example

You ask for 14 pennies from a jar full of pennies. How does your child count out the right number?

  1. Say the number out loud first: 14.
  2. Move one penny at a time into a new pile, saying one number for each penny.
  3. Stop when the count reaches 14. The new pile has 14 pennies.

Where children usually get stuck

  • Counting the 15 beads on a bracelet, your child goes past the first bead and ends with 19 or more.

    A circle has no end, so nothing tells your child to stop. The first bead looks like every other bead.

    What helps. Put a paper clip on the first bead before you start. When the count gets back to the paper clip, the count is done.

  • Counting 9 toy animals spread across the rug, your child gets 11, touching some twice and missing others.

    With no line to follow, your child loses track of which toys are already counted.

    What helps. Have your child drop each toy into a box as it is counted. The counted toys are then out of the way.

  • Asked for 7 grapes, your child counts the whole bowl or hands over a handful.

    Counting out a number means keeping the number in mind while counting and then stopping. Counting a whole pile is the task your child already knows, so the count runs on.

    What helps. Before you start, say the number together and hold up that many fingers. Stop together when the count reaches it.

Try four practice questions

Real kindergarten questions from our question bank, easiest first. Answer them right here, check each one, and see a worked solution for any question.

  1. 1Warm-up
    Count the apples.
    Apple
    Apple
    Apple
    Apple
    Apple
    How many apples are there?
    A
    7
    B
    8
    C
    3
    D
    5
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    There are 5 apples in the circle.

    1. 1Look at the apples in the circle. Pick one apple to start with.
    2. 2Count each apple as you go around the circle. Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Stop when you get back to the apple you started with.
    3. 3There are 5 apples.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is counting the starting apple twice when you go all the way around the circle. To avoid this, remember which apple you started with so you stop right before counting it again.

    The idea underneath. When counting objects in a circle, mark your starting point so you know when to stop. Each object should be counted exactly once.

  2. 2On level
    Count the frogs.
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    How many frogs are there? Type your answer.
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    Answer. 10

    There are 10 frogs in the circle. When counting in a circle, start at one object, count each one as you go around, and stop just before you reach the starting object again so you do not count it twice.

    1. 1Look at the frogs. They are arranged in a circle.
    2. 2Pick one frog to start. Count around the circle, saying one number for each frog: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Stop just before you reach the frog where you started.
    3. 3There are 10 frogs in the circle.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is counting the starting frog twice — once at the beginning and again when returning to it. This gives an answer of 11 instead of 10. To avoid this, remember which frog you started on and stop one frog before you reach it again.

    The idea underneath. When counting objects in a circle, the trick is keeping track of where you started. Each object should be counted exactly once, no more and no less.

  3. 3On level
    Aiyana and James each counted the ladybugs. Aiyana says 6. James says 6.
    Who is right?
    A
    Aiyana and James are both right.
    B
    James is right. Aiyana is wrong.
    C
    Aiyana is right. James is wrong.
    D
    Aiyana and James are both wrong.
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    There are 6 ladybugs. Both Aiyana and James said 6, so both friends are right.

    1. 1Look at the picture. Count the ladybugs one at a time.
    2. 2There are 6 ladybugs in the picture.
    3. 3Aiyana says 6. That matches the picture. James also says 6. That matches the picture too.
    4. 4Both Aiyana and James said 6, and there really are 6 ladybugs. So they are both right.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is assuming one friend must be wrong. If both friends say the correct count, both are right. Always count the ladybugs one at a time.

    The idea underneath. When two friends say the same number, count the picture yourself to check. If their number matches the picture, both are right.

  4. 4Stretch
    There is a coral reef. Drag exactly 8 seahorses into the coral reef.
    Tap or click a picture, then tap the grid to place it. Tap a placed picture to remove it.
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    There are 8 seahorses in the coral reef. Dragging one seahorse at a time and counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 helps you stop at exactly 8.

    1. 1Look at the coral reef. You need to put exactly 8 seahorses into the coral reef.
    2. 2Drag one seahorse at a time. Say a number out loud as you drag each one: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
    3. 3Stop dragging when you reach 8. Count the seahorses in the coral reef again to check.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is to keep dragging seahorses after reaching 8, or to stop one seahorse too early. Counting each seahorse as you drag it helps you stop at exactly 8.

    The idea underneath. When you count out a group, the last number you say tells you how many. Stop dragging the moment you say the target number.