Counting Within 20 Winter Picture Puzzle

This resource has been created by a teacher to use as an independent activity to practice counting within 20. To play, students will identify the number on the puzzle piece and cover the matching number of objects to complete the puzzle.

To support students who need help understanding the concepts use manipulatives as they count the number of objects on a card. Students can also refer to a number line to help identify their numbers. To challenge fast finishers who already understand the concept to record each number on a separate sheet of paper and draw a set of objects to match each number.

Counting to 20

Counting to 20 is an important milestone for children because it provides them with foundational numeracy skills that are crucial for their cognitive development and future academic success. Here are a few reasons why counting to 20 is important:

1. Basic Numeracy Skills: Counting to 20 helps children understand the concept of quantity and number sequence. It lays the groundwork for more advanced mathematical concepts they will encounter later in school.
2. Number Recognition: Learning to count to 20 involves recognizing and naming numbers. This helps children develop number recognition skills, which are essential for tasks like reading and writing numbers, understanding numerical patterns, and solving mathematical problems.
3. One-to-One Correspondence: Counting objects up to 20 helps children develop one-to-one correspondence, which is the ability to match each object in a set with one number word in the counting sequence. This skill is fundamental for understanding that each number represents a specific quantity.
4. Problem-Solving Skills: Counting to 20 encourages children to think logically and solve problems. For example, they may need to figure out how many objects are in a set or how many are left after some are removed. This fosters critical thinking and reasoning skills.
5. Preparation for Mathematics: Counting to 20 is a precursor to more advanced mathematical concepts, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It provides children with the foundation they need to understand these operations and apply them in real-world situations.
6. Life Skills: Counting to 20 is not only important for academic success but also for daily life. Children use counting skills in various everyday activities, such as counting objects, keeping track of items, telling time, and handling money.

Download and Explore Numbers to 20 Today

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

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