Pre-K · Counting & Cardinality
PK.CC.4: Count sets up to 10
PK.CC.4 is a Pre-K math standard in Counting & Cardinality. Here’s what it really covers, and how you can help your students learn it.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
The Pre-K math learning standard
Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 10 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 5 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-10, count out that many objects.
In plain words
Count sets up to 10.
Sample questions from student practice
These questions from Bobby's Math Club are the kinds of questions your students will see. You can try answering them to see what a student might see.
Question 1 of 3
How many fish are there?
- 5
- 3
- 4
Where students can get stuck
- Continuing to count round and round in a circle, without marking where they began.
- Counting past the target when asked for 6 crayons, and carrying on to the end of the box.
- Losing track in a scattered group of five, counting some twice and missing others, though a line of five goes fine.
Effective teaching strategies
- Count a circle of eight stuffed animals by setting a paper star beside the first one, so students know to stop when they get back to the star.
- Ask students to hand you exactly 6 crayons from a box, and have them stop at 6 and then count the crayons in their hand to check.
- Give groups of up to five scattered blocks and have students move each one into a basket as it is counted, so none is counted twice or missed.
Share it with families
Families can read Counting groups of up to 10 things for a plain-language look at this skill, with three questions to try together and ideas for helping at home.
Help every student practice counting at home
In Bobby's Math Club, students practice at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free for every family.
See how it works for teachers
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.