KindergartenMathmedium
Understanding Numbers to 20 - Place Value Fun
Practice identifying how many tens and ones are in numbers up to 20, perfect for kindergarten students learning place value concepts
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Identify the number of tens and ones in numbers 11-20 using visual representations like base-ten blocks or ten frames
- Recognize that numbers 11-19 contain exactly 1 ten plus additional ones (e.g., 15 = 1 ten and 5 ones)
- Distinguish between the digit in the tens place and the ones place for two-digit numbers up to 20
- Apply place value understanding to decompose numbers 11-20 into tens and ones combinations
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Begin by reviewing numbers 11-20 aloud with your child, emphasizing that each contains 'one ten plus some ones'
- Step 2: For each problem, have your child first identify the total number shown, then physically count or circle groups of 10 items
- Step 3: Guide your child to count any remaining individual items after the group of 10 is identified
- Step 4: Help them write or say the complete sentence 'This number has ___ ten(s) and ___ ones'
- Step 5: Review any incorrect answers by re-grouping the visual elements and counting together slowly
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Use physical manipulatives like counting bears or blocks - have children physically group 10 items together, then count the remaining ones. Many kindergarteners confuse the concept that '15' means 1 ten and 5 ones, not 1 and 5 separate numbers.
When working with teen numbers, emphasize that the '1' in numbers like 13, 16, or 19 represents 'one group of ten,' not just 'one thing.' Use language like 'one ten and three ones' rather than just pointing to digits.
Watch for students who count individual dots or objects without recognizing the ten-group pattern. Encourage them to circle or visually separate groups of 10 before counting the extras.
If children struggle with numbers above 15, start with just 11-15 first, as these numbers follow a clearer pattern that's easier for young learners to grasp before moving to larger teen numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my kindergartener keep saying '13' is '1 and 3' instead of '1 ten and 3 ones'?
This is completely normal! Kindergarteners are just learning that digits have different values based on their position. Use concrete objects like bundling 10 straws together to show that the '1' in '13' represents a whole group of 10, not just a single item. Practice with physical groupings before moving to abstract number work.
Should my child already know place value concepts, or is this advanced for kindergarten?
Place value for numbers to 20 is appropriate for kindergarten, especially later in the year. Focus on the concrete understanding (1 group of 10 plus some extras) rather than formal place value vocabulary. If your child finds it challenging, that's normal - this concept builds throughout grades K-2.
My child can count to 20 but struggles with breaking numbers into tens and ones. What should I do?
Counting and place value are different skills! Try using ten frames, egg cartons with 10 spaces, or bundling activities. Show numbers like 14 as a full ten-frame plus 4 extra dots. Make the 'ten-group' very visual and distinct from individual ones before expecting them to identify place values abstractly.
How can I help my kindergartener remember that 20 is '2 tens and 0 ones' when other teen numbers are different?
Twenty is tricky because it doesn't follow the 'teen' pattern! Use 2 full ten-frames or 2 groups of 10 objects to show that 20 is special - it's exactly 2 complete tens with nothing left over. Compare it to 19 (1 ten and 9 ones) to highlight the difference between 'almost 2 tens' and 'exactly 2 tens.'
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