Topic 1 of 7

Counting aloud to 10, then 20

Step 1 · Counting and shapes topics

Say the counting numbers in order, first to 10 and then on to 20, and carry on from any number.

The numbers to 10

Counting starts with ten number words, always in the same order: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Each number is one more than the number before it.

Towers of 1 to 10 blocks. Each tower is one block taller than the tower before it.

Fingers help. Hold up one finger for each number you say. Ten fingers, ten numbers.

On to 20

After ten come eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and then twenty.

Eleven and twelve have names of their own. From thirteen to nineteen the name gives a clue: fourteen sounds like four and ten, and it is ten and four more.

Number	Say it	Think of it as
13	thirteen	ten and 3
14	fourteen	ten and 4
15	fifteen	ten and 5
16	sixteen	ten and 6
17	seventeen	ten and 7
18	eighteen	ten and 8
19	nineteen	ten and 9

The counting numbers from 0 to 20, in order.

What comes next

To find the number after any number, say it and count one more. After 7 comes 8. After 15 comes 16. After 19 comes 20.

You do not have to start at 1. Start at 6 and count on: six, seven, eight, nine. This is called counting on.

Example: Counting on

Count on from 12. What are the next three numbers?

Say the starting number: twelve.
Count one more each time: thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.

Answer13, 14 and 15

The number before is the one you say just before it. The number before 10 is 9.

Try it yourself

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer to check.

Say the numbers from 1 to 10.
Show answer
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
What number comes after 9?
Show answer
10.
What number comes after 14?
Show answer
15.
What number comes just before 12?
Show answer
11.
Count on from 16 up to 20.
Show answer
Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty.