In this 6-lesson unit, students make groups of 10 to 20 objects, connect number names to the groups, compose and decompose numbers, and use numerals to record the size of a group. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities are included in each lesson.

Individual Lessons

• This lesson focuses on numbers 0-10, having students making groups of objects, identifying and writing numerals, and recording the number of objects in groups. First the teacher will use the concept of a "high five" to get students to make "high tens" and so on with numbers up to ten. Next they will use connecting cubes to build towers and compare them using descriptive vocabulary. They will use ten frames to lay down the conceptual framework for benchmark numbers, fives and tens. Finally they will make bean sticks to be used in a later lesson.
• Lesson 2: Building Sets of 11 and 12
• This lesson focuses on learning the numerals 11 and 12. First students will be shown the numeral 11 and asked how many tens and ones are in it. They will be given 10 each of two different colors of connecting blocks, and asked to make a tower of ten of one color, then add one of the other color. This will reinforce the concept of ten as a single unit. Next they will make a tower of 12, and then they will trace their tower and color it accordingly.
• Lesson 3: Building Sets of 13 and 14
• This lesson focuses on learning the numerals 13 and 14. First students will be shown the numerals 13 and 14 and asked to clap and count to each. They will be given 10 each of two different colors of connecting blocks, and asked to make a tower of ten of one color, then add the appropriate number of the other color. They will then trace their tower and color it accordingly. They will then use two ten frames to place the cubes and count out their numbers individually.
• Lesson 4: Building Sets of 15 and 16
• This lesson focuses on learning the numerals 15 and 16. First students will be given connecting cubes arranged in a set of 12-16 cubes and are asked to separate them into a group of ten and the rest singles. Then they are given loose cubes of two colors and asked to make a tower of 10 of one color, and add 5 of the other color. Students will trace the tower and color it accordingly, then write "15" using the first crayon color for the "1" and the other color for the "5". They will repeat this activity for 16. Next, they will then use two ten frames to place the cubes and count out their numbers individually. Lastly, they will use their bean sticks to count out and draw 15 and 16.
• Lesson 5: Building Sets of 17 and 18
• This lesson focuses on learning the numerals 17 and 18. First students will be distributed number cards and bags of connecting cubes, then asked to determine if their numeral card matches the number of cubes in the bag. If not, they are to determine whose bag does and trade with them. Next, they will be shown the numeral 18 and asked to clap and count it out. They will be given connecting cubes and asked to model 18 (and then 17) in ten frames. Then they will sort the cubes and record them into as many sets of two as they can. The next activity uses a spinner applet to randomly pick numbers 10-20 for the students to assemble towers and model bean sticks.
• Lesson 6: Building Sets of 19 and 20
• This lesson focuses on sets of 19 and 20. Students use ten frames, connecting cubes and bean sticks to compare other sets to a set of 20, construct and decompose, identify, write, and record groups of up to 20.