LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Counting to 20 and Teen Numbers
You can count to ten. Let’s keep going! Today you will count all the way to twenty and learn about the teen numbers. Teen numbers are special, because each one is made of ten and some more.
Counting from 11 to 20
After ten comes:
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty
Tricky names
Eleven and twelve do not sound like the others, so they need extra practice. From thirteen to nineteen, you can hear a small number at the start: thir-teen (3), four-teen (4), fif-teen (5).
Teen numbers are ten and some more
Look at the numeral 14. The 1 means one ten. The 4 means four more ones. So fourteen is ten and four more.
| Number | Ten | Ones | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 10 | 1 | ten and one more |
| 13 | 10 | 3 | ten and three more |
| 15 | 10 | 5 | ten and five more |
| 18 | 10 | 8 | ten and eight more |
| 20 | two tens | 0 | two tens |
Example
Ben has 10 marbles in a bag and 6 marbles on the table. He counts: “ten in the bag… eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen.” He has 16 marbles. That is ten and six more!
Use a ten frame
A ten frame is a box with ten spaces, in two rows of five. When it is full, you have ten. Fill one ten frame, then put extra counters next to it to show teen numbers.
- A full ten frame plus 2 counters shows 12.
- A full ten frame plus 7 counters shows 17.
- Two full ten frames show 20.
Counting on
You do not need to start at one every time. If you already know there are 10, start at ten and count on: “ten… eleven, twelve.”
Key takeaways
- After ten we count eleven to twenty.
- Teen numbers are one ten and some more ones.
- A full ten frame shows ten.
- You can count on from ten instead of starting at one.
Practice
Use counters or draw dots. Show these numbers as ten and some more: 12, 15, 19.
Answers: 12 is ten and 2 more, 15 is ten and 5 more, 19 is ten and 9 more.