Counting Books and Counting Blocks

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

You can use unit blocks to count the books!

• What are unit blocks?

Unit blocks are small, square blocks. They look similar to the blocks below. If you have unit blocks at home, grab them for this lesson!

Each block stands for one number. 

If you have one block, it means you have the number one. If you have two blocks, it means you have the number two, and so on. You can use these blocks to count all the way up to 100!

Use the unit cubes to count Jack’s stack of books.

There is one cube for each book. Count the cubes. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Jack has 17 books!

Now, count May’s stack of books.

There is one cube for each book. Count the cubes. 

1, 2, 3

May has 3 books!

Lastly, count Coco’s stack of books. 

There is one cube for each book. Count the cubes. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Coco has 11 books!

Now, you know how many books each kid took home from the library! 

• How can you compare Jack’s, May’s, and Coco’s book stacks?
• How can you use the unit blocks to determine who has the most and the least?

You just used unit blocks to count books. You can also use unit blocks to build numbers! 

First, build the number 17. This is the number of Jack’s books. 

Take 17 unit blocks and put them together in a line or a stack. 

This shows you what the number 17 looks like.

Next, let’s build the number 3. This is the number of May’s books.

Last, build the number 11. This is the number of Coco’s books. 

Now you can see all the numbers side by side. This makes it easier to compare them.

• What do you notice when the numbers are lined up together?

Jack’s line of blocks is the longest. That means Jack has the most books.

May’s line of blocks is the shortest. That means May has the least books.

Now, look at Coco’s and Jack’s lines of blocks.

• How many more blocks does Jack have?

Notice where Coco’s line ends. Count the blocks from there to the end of Jack’s line.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Jack has 6 more blocks than Coco. That means Jack has 6 more library books than Coco!

The more you play with unit blocks, the better you will be at counting and comparing. 

Visit the Got It? section to count more unit blocks!