Counting with Blocks: Ones and Tens!

Math Grades 1st Grade 5:41 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Let's learn how to count using base ten blocks! We'll use cubes for ones and longs for tens to add numbers together. It's like building with math!

Video Resource

Counting Ones and Tens | Math | 1st Grade - Kids Academy

Kids Academy

Duration: 5:41
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Ones: A single unit represented by a cube.
  • Tens: A group of ten ones represented by a long.
  • Place Value: Understanding that the position of a digit in a number determines its value (ones place, tens place).

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify and count ones using cubes.
  • Students will be able to identify and count tens using longs.
  • Students will be able to combine ones and tens to represent two-digit numbers.
  • Students will be able to add ones and tens using base ten blocks.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by introducing the concept of counting and how we can use blocks to help us. Show examples of single cubes and explain that each one represents 'one'. Then, introduce the 'long' or 'ten' and explain that it's made up of ten cubes.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Watch the 'Counting Ones and Tens | Math | 1st Grade - Kids Academy' video. Encourage students to follow along and count with the video.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Using base ten blocks (or drawings of them), present problems similar to those in the video. For example: 'Show me 2 tens and 3 ones.' or 'What number is represented by 1 ten and 5 ones?' Guide students to count and combine the blocks to find the total value.
  • Independent Practice (8 mins)
    Provide students with worksheets or individual whiteboards and have them solve problems on their own. Examples: Draw the base ten blocks for the number 24. Write the number that represents 3 tens and 6 ones.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts and learning objectives. Ask students to share what they learned and how they can use base ten blocks to help them with counting and adding.

Interactive Exercises

  • Block Building
    Give students a set of base ten blocks and ask them to build different numbers. For example: 'Build the number 17.' 'Build the number 32.'
  • Number Matching
    Create cards with numbers and cards with drawings of base ten blocks. Have students match the number cards to the correct block cards.

Discussion Questions

  • What does a cube represent?
  • What does a long represent?
  • How many cubes make up a long?
  • How can we use blocks to help us add numbers?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Place Value Understanding
  • Addition
  • Problem Solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

A cube shows how many?

Correct Answer: 1

Question 2:

A long shows how many?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 3:

How many cubes are in one long?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 4:

Which one is a cube?

Correct Answer: Small square block

Question 5:

Which one is a long?

Correct Answer: Long block

Question 6:

Two longs show how many?

Correct Answer: 20

Question 7:

What number do these blocks make? 1 long and 3 cubes.

Correct Answer: 13

Question 8:

If you have 3 longs and 0 cubes, what number is that?

Correct Answer: 30

Question 9:

If you have 0 longs and 5 cubes, what number is that?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 10:

Which is more? 1 long or 8 cubes?

Correct Answer: 1 long

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A _____ is a group of ten ones.

Correct Answer: long

Question 2:

A small block is called a _____.

Correct Answer: cube

Question 3:

A cube shows the number _____.

Correct Answer: 1

Question 4:

A long shows the number _____.

Correct Answer: 10

Question 5:

Two longs show the number _____.

Correct Answer: 20

Question 6:

Three cubes show the number _____.

Correct Answer: 3

Question 7:

1 long and 2 cubes makes the number _____.

Correct Answer: 12

Question 8:

2 longs and 5 cubes makes the number _____.

Correct Answer: 25

Question 9:

3 longs and 0 cubes makes the number _____.

Correct Answer: 30

Question 10:

0 longs and 9 cubes makes the number _____.

Correct Answer: 9

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.B.2:Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones. CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.C.4:Add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans