L11 – WWW – Reception Count Beyond 10

Working Without Worksheets – Reception Maths: Counting Beyond 10 Support your Reception pupils in developing early number skills with this Working Without Worksheets lesson, where children learn to count beyond 10 and explore the “one more” relationship between consecutive numbers. Using counting bears, number lines, and active learning games, children build fluency and confidence in numbers to 20—without needing worksheets. The lesson begins with a starter activity: singing a counting song together ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive ), which warms children up for number recognition and sequencing. The teacher then introduces counting beyond 10 using a set of counting bears. As each bear is counted, a numeral is assigned, reinforcing one-to-one correspondence. The teacher models adding one more bear to the group and shows the next numeral, encouraging children to recognise the “one more” relationship rather than starting the count again from 1. Children then practise counting together beyond 10, building up to 20, and explore missing numbers with a number line activity (“Oh no! The numbers have fallen off the number line—can you help put them back?”). For the independent activity, pupils use a chalked number line outdoors. They jump along the number line, saying the numbers out loud as they land, consolidating physical counting with visual recognition. The plenary is a whole-class activity: “My turn, your turn”. The teacher says a number and children respond with the next number, practising consecutive counting all the way to 20. What’s Included in the Pack? ✔ Full teacher planning with objectives, key questions, and plenary guidance ✔ Starter: counting rhyme for fluency and engagement ✔ Practical teacher modelling with counting bears to show the “one more” relationship ✔ Number line activity to reinforce ordering and missing numbers ✔ Independent task: outdoor chalk number line jump to count beyond 10 ✔ Plenary: My turn, your turn oral counting game