Skill: Count objects to 20

To count objects, match one number word to each object:

1. Start at one end.
2. Touch or point to each object once.
3. Say the counting numbers in order: $(1, 2, 3,\ldots)$
4. The last number you say tells how many objects there are.

Example: Count the stars.

$$\star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star$$ $$\star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star\quad \star$$

Touch each star once while counting:

• First row: $(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)$
• Second row: $(8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)$

The last number said is $(14)$, so there are $(14)$ stars.

It does not matter if the stars are moved closer together or farther apart. If there are still the same stars, there are still $(14)$ stars.