Counting Boards for Representing
Numbers in Preschool and Kindergarten
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Description of a Board Each board has 5 rows and 2 columns of square locations labeled by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. In kindergarten, children already start learning how to read and write, so the boards should be labeled with numbers written in decimal notation. In preschool, they may be labeled with different icons. 
To the left is a numerical counting board. To the right is the
same counting board, except with images rather than numbers. Both boards
show the number 4.
Tokens are two-sided, usually colored red and white. In later grades, red tokens represent negative numbers and white tokens represent positive numbers. In kindergarten, when children work in pairs, it is convenient in many situations, that one child uses red tokens and the other white tokens. Activity: Representing Numbers and Learning Their Names 
Supplies: A 5 by 2 counting board as shown above, and 12 tokens. 
Teams: Children work individually or in pairs or threes.1. Place one token on the square marked 1, and place a single token next to it off the board to the right. We see a token on 1 on the board, and one token to the right. 
Image of the board after step 1.
2. Move the token on the board up to the number 2, and put a stack of two tokens next to it off the board. We see a token on the board up to the number 2, and put a stack of two tokens to the right. 
Image of the board after step 2.
3. Move the token to 3 on the board, and put a stack of three tokens next to it off the board. What do we see? 
Image of the board after step 3.
4. Move the token to 4 on the board. Stack four tokens next to it off the board to the right. We see 4 on the board and a stack of 4 tokens. 
Image of the board after step 4.
5. Continue this until you have two tokens on the number 5 and two stacks of 5 tokens next to it. Finish by putting one token on the number 10, and moving the two stacks of 5 tokens next to it. 
Image of the board with two tokens on the number 5 and two stacks of 5 tokens next to it.
Image of the board as the stacks are moved to show one token on the number 10 and two stacks of five tokens next to it.
You may challenge children to form one stack of ten tokens. 
Image of the board with ten tokens stacked.
6. Now, join with another group that has 12 tokens, and, using one board, continue the count to 20, showing a representation of the number on the board and the same number with four stacks of 5 tokens each or two stacks of 10 tokens each. 
Image of the board after step six. The board shows one token on the number 20 and two stacks of ten next to it.
7. You may continue this further, with another group, reaching 30, and with two more groups, reaching 50. 
Image of the board with one token on the number 30 and two stacks of 10 tokens next to it.
Image of the board with one token on the number 50 and five stacks of 10 tokens next to it.
Again, you may challenge children to build taller and taller stacks. It helps them to see how big the numbers they are dealing with actually are. 
This tall stack is 40 tokens high!
During this activity, children who already know the names of the numbers up to ten and the numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, should get fluent in using them in the context of this activity. In a bilingual classroom, all children should learn about the names of these numbers in both languages, in order to be able to talk with each other about the tasks. Number Board index |