Numbers 0–20: counting, ordering and representing – Week 2 focus
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Subject: Mathematics
Class: Grade 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 2
Theme: General lesson support
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Overview This week, we continue our exciting journey into the world of numbers, expanding our knowledge from 0 all the way to
2
0. Understanding numbers up to 20 is a foundational skill in mathematics and in life. In South Africa, learners encounter these numbers everywhere: counting out R1 coins at the spaza shop, sharing marbles with 15 friends, seeing the date on the board, or counting the number of houses on their street.
This lesson focuses on three key skills: counting forwards and backwards, ordering numbers from smallest to biggest, and representing numbers using objects, pictures, and symbols.
A. Counting (0–20) Counting is more than just saying numbers in order.
It involves two important types: Rote Counting: This is saying the number names in the correct order from memory. We practise this by counting forwards (0, 1, 2, ... 20) and backwards (20, 19, 18, ... 0). Counting backwards is like a rocket launching: 10, 9, 8... blast off! Counting forwards is like climbing a ladder. Rational Counting (One-to-one Correspondence): This is the skill of counting actual objects. For each object you touch, you say one number name. It's important not to skip any objects or count the same one twice.
Example: Counting amagwinya (vetkoek). Let's say Mama has baked some amagwinya. To count them, you would: Line them up or point to them one at a time. As you touch the first one, you say, "One." As you touch the second one, you say, "Two." ...and so on until you have touched every single one. The last number you say is how many amagwinya there are in total. If the last number you said was 'sixteen', there are 16 amagwinya.
B. Representing Numbers (0–20)
We can show a number in different ways: Concrete: Using real objects you can touch. This is the best way for young learners to start. You can use bottle tops, stones, beans, beads, or Unifix cubes.
Example:* To show the number 14, you would count out exactly 14 bottle tops.
Pictorial: By drawing a picture.
Example:* To show the number 12, you could draw 12 happy faces. ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺ Symbol: Using the numeral, which is the way we write the number.
Example:* The symbol for twelve is
1
2. Number Name: Using the word for the number.
Example:* The number name for 12 is twelve. Here are the number symbols and names from 11 to 20: | Symbol | Name | |--------|-----------| | 11 | eleven | | 12 | twelve | | 13 | thirteen | | 14 | fourteen | | 15 | fifteen | | 16 | sixteen | | 17 | seventeen | | 18 | eighteen | | 19 | nineteen | | 20 | twenty | C. Ordering and Comparing Numbers (0–20) Ordering means putting numbers in the right place, from smallest to biggest, or biggest to smallest. A number line is a great tool for this. Number Line 0–20: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Numbers on the left are smaller. Numbers on the right are bigger.
Key Vocabulary: Before: The number that comes just to the left. (1 less).
Example: 14 comes before 15.* After: The number that comes just to the right. (1 more).
Example: 19 comes after 18.* Between: The number that is in the middle of two other numbers.
Example: 12 is between 11 and 13.* More than / Bigger than: A number further to the right on the number line.
Example: 20 is more than 16.* Less than / Smaller than: A number further to the left on the number line.
Example: 11 is less than 17.*
Which is bigger, 17 or 13?
Find the numbers on the number line. Find 17 and find
1
3.
See which one is on the right. 17 is further to the right than
1
3. Conclusion: This means 17 is bigger than
1
3.
Alternatively, you can use objects. Count out 17 bottle tops and 13 bottle tops. The group of 17 has more bottle tops in it.
Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Question 1:
Thabo has a collection of marbles. Count how many marbles are in the picture below and write down the number symbol.
(Imagine a drawing of 18 marbles scattered)
Solution 1:
Method: We will use rational counting (one-to-one correspondence). Point to each marble and count out loud, making sure not to count the same marble twice.
Step-by-step: "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen."
Answer: The last number we said was eighteen. The number symbol for eighteen is
1
8. Thabo has 18 marbles.