Multiplication - Counting in Steps of Twos and Tens

As part of the Year 1 Maths Curriculum children are expected to be able to "solve one-step problems involving multiplication and division, by calculating the answer using concrete objects, pictorial representations and arrays with the support" of an adult.

When learning about Multiplication we teach the children how to count in steps of twos, fives and tens to be able to explore number patterns and how to represent these facts in various pictorial representations such as arrays. 

Below you can find a selection of activities to help your son/daughter become familiar with counting in twos and tens. If you need any further clarification please do not hesitate to email me. 

Helpful Interactive Resources

To help you to look at the different counting patterns/sequences you could use either the interactive number line or the hundred square links below. What do you notice about the numbers?

 *Alternatively, you may want to make your own physical versions at home.

Interactive Number Line

https://apps.mathlearningcenter.org/number-line/ - Use the drawing tools (found on the bottom panel) to draw on your jumps.

Interactive Hundred Square

https://apps.mathlearningcenter.org/number-line/ - Using the colour blocks on the left so you can jump on the numbers as you say them.

Remember that you will need to make sure you are jumping the same amount each time. 

Activity 1

Practise counting in twos by following this song. When you feel confident, see if you can count in twos without the song by following your own comfortable rhythm when counting.

After you have done this, your adult can test your learning by asking you to identify the next number in the sequence from a given number. For example your adult could ask you to say the next number or the previous number within the twos number pattern. Remember that you are counting in 2s, so it is not one more or one less from the given number. 

Adult says: What would the next number be after 14? 

Answer: 16

Adult says: What would have been the number before 10? 

Answer:8

Activity 2

Have a go at the 'Counting on and back in 2s within 50' lesson from BBC Bitesize. 

Activity 3

Practise counting in tens by following this song. When you feel confident, see if you can count in tens without the song by following your own comfortable rhythm when counting.

You can then follow the same challenge from Activity 1. 

Activity 4

Have a go at following the White Rose Lesson on counting in 10s. There is a 'Flashback' exercise which you can complete at the start of the video or alternatively you can just being at 1:24 for the main lesson. 

* Please note that in the 'Flashback 4' part of the video the lady refers to "Base 10". The children will know these as Dienes and as the 'Tens Stick'. They are used as a physical and pictorial representation to show ten(s).