Engaging Activities for Teaching Teen Numbers in Kindergarten

Learning to understand and work with teen numbers (11-20) is one of the most important building blocks in kindergarten math. It’s the bridge between counting objects and truly understanding what numbers represent. When your students begin to realize that teen numbers are made of a ten and some more ones, you can practically see their number sense grow before your eyes! But… getting there takes intentional instruction, plenty of concrete practice, and a clear sequence of lessons that build from counting to composing and decomposing numbers. Ready to learn all my top tips? Come along to see how we can make teaching teen numbers in kindergarten fun and simple!

Why Teen Numbers Can Be Tricky for Kindergarteners

Teen numbers tend to throw our students for a loop! After all, they’ve spent weeks mastering a simple counting pattern, and suddenly the rules change. Words like eleven and twelve don’t give any hints that these numbers are made of ten and some more. This can feel overwhelming to our little learners and make them a bit nervous to tackle teen numbers.

Not to mention, when kids don’t get that connection early, place value can feel confusing down the road, especially once we move into addition and subtraction with bigger numbers. Students who can compose and decompose numbers 11-19 (for example, 18 = 10 + 8) will transition to two-digit addition, regrouping, and mental math much more smoothly. Teaching teen numbers well means students learn a flexible strategy for thinking about numbers, not just a list to recite.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of diving into these skills, take a step back and take a breath! We’re going to tackle this together as I walk you through my step-by-step, classroom-tested method for making this concept stick!

Start with Clear Anchor Charts

Anchor charts provide students with a visual memory aid. For teen numbers, post large, simple charts that show each teen number in multiple ways. The ones we use feature:

• The numeral
• The teen number word
• A ten-frame filled to ten plus the extra ones
• A base-ten picture (one rod and cubes)
• Number bonds
• A written equation

Use these charts when you introduce each number and keep them visible in the math center for reference. I also like to laminate them and use them as math mats, too. Students can use dry-erase markers to trace the numeral, build with cubes, and fill a tens frame to match. Showing the number in multiple ways and offering opportunities to build the numbers is a wonderful way to build number sense when teaching teen numbers.

Hands-On Manipulatives are a Must

Speaking of hands-on learning, can you really ever have enough of this in kindergarten?! The answer is no! The more hands-on learning opportunities we present, the better we can expect our littles to retain information, especially when it comes to teen numbers! In my classroom, we use all kinds of math manipulatives in small groups and centers. Here are some of our favorites:

• Ten-frames: Fill one ten-frame and use a second one to add the extra ones. This visual instantly shows ten plus more to your students. I like to use these little dry-erase mats in small groups to practice.
• Base-ten blocks: Have students build each teen number using one ten-rod plus single cubes.
• Snap cubes or linking cubes: Students can make a tower of ten and then add extra cubes; then slide the ten aside to show the number.
• Counters and bowls: Give students a bowl labeled “ten” and another labeled “ones.” They physically move ten counters to the tens bowl and then count the rest. I like to use seasonal mini erasers for this activity to add to the fun.

No matter what you’re using, when you model, always say what you’re doing, such as, “I made ten here, then I added three more, so thirteen is ten and three ones.” Talking through as you provide a visual is what makes the magic happen! The key is to switch it up and use a variety of visuals to keep this engaging and fun for your students. Every learner will “click” with a different visual, so make sure to add plenty of variety!

Choose Engaging Teen Number Practice Activities

In addition to LOTS of hands-on practice, I like to use some engaging, kindergarten-friendly worksheets to help students get enough practice with this skill. I know there are tons of worksheets out there, and it can feel really overwhelming to know which ones will actually align with the standards and help your students thrive. That’s exactly why I created my 4-week Teen Numbers Unit for kindergarten! Inside this resource, you will find:

• 20 Days of Teen Numbers Worksheets and Activities
• Short Post Test for Teen Numbers
• 20 Day Teaching Guide for Teen Numbers
• Anchor Charts for 11-20 (mentioned above)
• Answer Keys

This makes teaching teen numbers a no-brainer with daily prompts, suggestions, and worksheets aligned to specific standards. You won’t have to reinvent the wheel or wonder if you’re teaching in the right sequence. Instead, you can rest easy and pull out your handy teaching guide to see exactly what needs to happen each day. Not only does this clear up brain space, but it also provides you with peace of mind in knowing your kids are getting the practice they need to master teen numbers and lay a solid foundation for number sense!

Oh, and we can’t forget… these worksheets are super engaging for young learners! With friendly characters, opportunities for hands-on learning, and multiple activities on each page, your students won’t be bored with these. They are age-appropriate, fun, and flexible!

Kindergarten Teen Numbers Unit Lesson Topics

Wondering what the lessons focus on? I’m so glad you asked! Here’s a quick overview of each lesson, week by week:

• Intro to Teen Numbers – 1 week of slowly introducing each number (11-20)
• Understanding Teen Numbers – Working with tens frames, choosing the correct teen numbers, and matching teen numbers
• Counting Teen Numbers – Counting objects and writing teen numbers, what comes before, what comes after, finding ten, and counting the rest
• Creating Teen Numbers – number bonds, base ten, greater than, and less than

This is my tried and true sequence that has held up with my students each and every time I’ve taught this topic. I’ve built in a standard amount of time to cover each topic, but the great thing about this is that you can tailor it to fit the needs of your room. Slow it down, speed it up, or review as much as you like!

Since all the topics are already laid out, it also makes this resource ideal for differentiation. You can skip around for each of your small groups and make sure each student in your room is getting exactly what they need to master teen numbers at their level.

Making the Most of the Teen Number Lessons: How to Structure Your Daily Routine

If you’re wondering how to put this into practice, I’ve got you covered! Just remember, “consistency beats intensity.” A short daily routine of 10-15 minutes helps ensure your kids are getting the practice they need. This is how we use the materials in small groups in my room:

• Warm-up: Fast oral counting with questions like, “How many more to make ten?” are great here!
• Mini lesson: Introduce or review one teen number using a manipulative demo or anchor chart.
• Guided practice: Students build and write independently or with a partner as the teacher observes misconceptions.
• Independent practice: Use the worksheet that aligns with your lesson or topic of the day to reinforce what you’ve learned so far.

This is a simple, yet effective routine that will help you get the most out of the lessons and resources in the unit AND help your kids get daily practice with teen numbers. What could be better?!

Simplify Your Math Lessons for the Whole Year

Ok, actually there is one thing that’s even better… A year-long unit with the same easy-to-use framework for ALL of your math lessons! Yes, really! My Year-Long Kindergarten Math Bundle is jam-packed with 8 units featuring teacher guides, standards-aligned activities, anchor charts, no-prep practice pages, and more! It will simplify your math lessons and let you breathe easier knowing you have everything planned, sequenced, and ready to go! Here’s everything inside:

• 8 Kindergarten Math Units
• Kindergarten Math Teaching Guides for each unit
• Kindergarten Math Assessments or Tests for each unit
• Hands-on NO PREP activities
• Kindergarten Math Anchor Charts or Posters for each unit
• Answer Keys

Pretty amazing, right?! If you’re ready to ditch the math overwhelm and say “YES” to streamlined lessons, make sure to check out the Year-Long Kindergarten Math Bundle. I know you will love having everything right at your fingertips!

Looking for More Kindergarten Math Activities?

Be sure to check out these posts next for more math ideas!

• The Best Numbers to 5 Activities for Kindergarten
• 5 Fun & Easy Ways to Teach Numbers 0-10 in Kindergarten

Save These Teen Number Tips and Ideas

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