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Maths

Counting Song Take Away

Overview

Children use a simple song or chant to practise counting down and seeing how numbers change.

Learning Objective
Children practise counting backwards and understanding one less.

Resources needed

  • 10 objects (bottles, stones, sticks)
  • Space to display them

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Place 10 objects in a line where all children can see.
  2. 2 Count them together from 1 to 10.
  3. 3 Sing or say a simple counting rhyme (e.g. '10, 9, 8...').
  4. 4 Remove one object each time.
  5. 5 Ask: 'How many are left now?'
  6. 6 Count together to check.
  7. 7 Repeat until no objects are left.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Remove two objects at a time
  • Start from a smaller number
  • Ask children to predict the next number before counting
More information

Teach the chant in the local language first. Repetition and rhythm support memory.

Let children physically remove the objects themselves to reinforce the concept.

Can children predict the next number before the object is removed? Do they count back confidently?

Use any 10 identical objects — stones, seeds, bottle caps. If space is limited, hold objects in hands and drop them one by one.

Children often say the number they just removed rather than the number remaining. Emphasise: 'We took one away — now how many are left?' and pause before counting.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 10–15 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Counting Subtraction