Counting collections: a 20-minute kindergarten counting routine
What it is: a kindergarten counting routine where partners count a bag or cup of everyday objects and then show on paper how they counted. Over time, students move from counting by ones to grouping in twos, fives and tens.
Time: about 20 minutes. Grade: kindergarten.
Materials: 10 to 12 bags or cups with 10 to 40 objects each (craft sticks, blocks, bottle caps, crayons), paper and pencils.
- Show one collection. Ask: "How could we count these so we don't lose track?" Collect ideas: lining up, moving each one, making piles.
- Partners choose a collection and count it together. Both have to agree on the total.
- Walk around and ask: "How did you count? How do you know you didn't count one twice?"
- Partners show their counting on paper with a drawing, tally marks or numbers.
- Two pairs share. Point out a pair that made groups, and ask why groups help.
Safety: keep objects bigger than a bottle cap and check bags before class.
Differentiation: students who need support start with bags of 10 to 15. Students who are ready count larger collections and group by 10. English learners can count in their home language and then in English.
Quick check: watch a pair count. Note whether they touch or move each object and keep the last number as the total.
For more ideas at this grade, browse the other free activities on the Hub.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 29, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Math
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.