Skip counting is an important skill, one that leads kids naturally into multiplication. Kids can learn to skip count by rote, but they’ll get more value from seeing how the concept relates to real-life math. Try these activities and ideas to help make it happen!
1. Sing some skip counting songs.
Mr. R has so many skip counting songs! They’re much more fun that simply chanting, “five, ten, fifteen, twenty…” Find them all here.
2. Read a skip counting book.
Teach across the curriculum with one or more of these cute picture books that incorporate skip counting as part of the story.
- 100th Day Worries
- Spunky Monkeys on Parade
- One Hundred Angry Ants
- One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab
- Two Ways to Count to Ten
3. Turn sentence strips into a wall chart.
Such an easy way to make a colorful wall chart! (Need sentence strips? Try this well-reviewed set from Amazon.)
Learn more: This Reading Mama
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4. Group objects to introduce the concept.
Pre-schoolers and kindergarteners start learning this skill by grouping objects. Get free printable pages to use with this activity at the link.
Learn more: File Folder Fun
5. Skip count with handprints.
Use your students’ handprints to demonstrate counting by 5s and 10s. So cute!
Learn more: Liz’s Early Learning Spot
6. Play skip counting hopscotch.
This is a classic skip counting activity. Start out simply by just labeling the blocks by 2s or 5s. Mix things up by adding some choices to make along the way.
Learn more: Math Geek Mama
7. Lace plates as you count.
This activity is easy to set up, and kids can even flip over the plates to check their answers! Learn how to make them at the link.
Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me
8. Solve a skip counting maze.
Navigate a maze to practice skip counting. Get free printables at the link below.
Learn more: Confessions of a Homeschooler
9. Count and connect the dots.
Skip counting connect-the-dots are very popular, and you can find plenty available online. Try these free examples first—your class is sure to love them!
Learn more: Worksheets Site
10. Use paper clips on a paper plate.
We bet you have leftover paper plates from the lacing activity, so pair them up with paper clips for another idea that also provides fine motor practice.
Learn more: Creative Family Fun
11. Introduce some movement.
Rather just reciting numbers, get kids up and moving while they skip count! (See more active math ideas here.)
Learn more: Teaching With Terhune
12. Make skip counting art.
This idea combines grouping with pointillism, the technique of making art from tiny dots. All you need are cotton swabs and poster paint.
Learn more: Creative Family Fun
13. Grab a handful of LEGO bricks.
Who doesn’t love using LEGOs in the classroom? The various brick sizes are ideal for talking about skip counting.
Learn more: Royal Baloo
14. Fill cups with blocks.
You can also use LEGOs with this one, or pull out your Unifix blocks. Kids build stacks and fill the cups.
Learn more: Powerful Mothering
15. Put wood craft sticks in order.
Wood craft sticks have so many uses in the classroom. Label them with numbers and use them for counting practice! You can also have kids draw a single stick and practice counting upwards from that number. (Grab these colorful craft sticks from Amazon here.)
Learn more: Simply Kinder
16. Put some money on the line.
Nickels and dimes make great skip count tools, and kids will get money practice too.
Learn more: The OT Toolbox
17. Roll the skip counting dice.
Have kids roll dice to see what number they’ll be counting by. This gives practice all the way up to counting by 12s.
Learn more: 3 Dinosaurs
18. Clip clothespins to a measuring tape.
Such an easy activity to set up—all you need are clothespins and a measuring tape!
Learn more: Thriving STEM
19. Craft skip counting kites.
This free printable craft idea makes kites with skip counting tails. Hang them in your classroom when you’re done!
Learn more: Kindergarten Worksheets and Games
20. Put together a skip counting puzzle.
The puzzles prompt kids if they need some help, buy they’re really secretly getting some counting practice.
Learn more: Life Over Cs
21. Make number posters.
You can buy a set of these cute numbers at the link below, or break your kids into groups and have them cut out and label their own for display.
Learn more: A Blog From the Pond
Ten frames are a terrific tool for teaching skip counting. Find 10 Frame Activities and Ideas here.
Incorporate more math into reading time with these 17 Picture Books About Math.
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