Section 1
Where Did Numbers Come From?
A long, long time ago, people did not have numbers the way we do now. They needed to keep track of things like sheep, fish, and bags of food. So they found clever ways to count! Let's look at how counting grew over time.
Very Long Ago
About 5,000 Years Ago
About 2,000 Years Ago
Today
People invented counting because they needed to know "how many?" That is the same question you answer every time you count. When you count to 120, you are doing something humans have worked on for thousands of years!
Section 2
The Big Ideas of Counting
Before we start counting, let's learn four big ideas. These ideas will help you count all the way to 120 and beyond!
We Use Ten Digits
Numbers Have an Order
Ones and Tens
You Can Start Anywhere
Key Takeaway
Section 3
The Number Chart to 120
Here is a chart that shows every number from 1 to 120. Each row has ten numbers. Look at how the tens digit changes when you start a new row!
Look at the chart above. Do you see how each row of ten numbers starts with a new tens digit? The first row goes 1–10. The next row goes 11–20. The pattern keeps going all the way to 120. Every time you reach a number that ends in zero (like 10, 20, 30), the next number starts a brand new set of ten!
This chart is your best friend when learning to count. You can put your finger on any number and count forward. Try it: find 53 and count up to 62. You'll go 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62!
Section 4
How Counting Works
When you count, you say numbers in order. Each number is one more than the last. Let's see how the ones place and tens place work together.
The Ones Place
These are the ten digits. They go in the "ones" spot.
When you count from 1 to 9, you only change the ones digit. But what happens after 9? There is no single digit for "ten." So we use two places: a tens place and a ones place.
What Happens After 9
The ones place goes back to 0, and the tens place goes up to 1.
This same trick happens every time the ones place reaches 9. After 19 comes 20. After 29 comes 30. After 99 comes 100! When all the ones are used up, the next bigger place goes up by one.
What Happens After 99
Now we need a hundreds place! The 1 in 100 means "one hundred."
Numbers past 100 work the same way. After 100 comes 101, 102, 103 … and they keep going up to 120 and beyond. You already know the pattern — just keep adding one!
Key Takeaway
Section 5
Counting Objects & Writing Numerals
Numbers aren't just for saying out loud. You can also write a numeral to show how many objects there are. A numeral is the written form of a number (like "7" or "43" or "110").
Let's practice. Below are groups of stars. Count each group, then look at the numeral that matches.
Group A
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Count them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. There are 8 stars. We write the numeral 8.
Group B
🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
Count them: that's 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 apples. We write the numeral 15. The "1" means one ten, and the "5" means five ones.
In the picture above, you can see 2 groups of ten circles and 3 extra ones. That's 10 + 10 + 3 = 23. The numeral 23 tells us exactly how many there are. The "2" stands for 2 tens and the "3" stands for 3 ones.
Whenever you count a group of objects, you can write the numeral that matches. If you count 47 blocks, you write 47. If someone writes the numeral 103, you know there are 103 things.
Section 6
Worked Example
Let's do a full counting problem together, step by step!
Count from 96 to 110. Write each numeral.
- 1
Step 1 — Start at 96
We begin at 96. The next number is one more: 97. - 2
Step 2 — Keep adding one
97, 98, 99 … now we're at 99. That's the biggest two-digit number! - 3
Step 3 — Cross into the hundreds
After 99 comes 100. We write a "1" in the hundreds place, and "00" for zero tens and zero ones. Say it: "one hundred." - 4
Step 4 — Keep counting in the hundreds
100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 … - 5
Step 5 — Reach 110
After 109 comes 110. The ones place went past 9 again, so the tens place went up! We're done.
Our Answer
Great job! Notice how we didn't have to start at 1. We started right at 96 and counted up. You can start at any number less than 120 and keep going.
Section 7
Tips, Tricks & Tricky Spots
Counting to 120 is fun, but some parts can be tricky! Here are the spots where kids sometimes get mixed up, and tips to help you get it right every time.
| Tricky Spot | What Goes Wrong | Tip to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| After 19 | Some kids say "twenty-ten" instead of 20. | Remember: after 19, the tens digit goes to 2 and the ones reset to 0. That's 20! |
| The teens (11–19) | The names sound funny — "eleven," "twelve," "thirteen" don't follow a clear pattern. | Practice saying them often. These are special names to memorize. |
| After 99 | Going from 99 to 100 feels like a big jump. | It's the same pattern! The ones and tens both reset, and a new hundreds place starts. |
| After 109 | Some kids write "1010" instead of 110. | 110 = one hundred ten. The "11" part means 11 tens, not "ten-ten." |
| Skipping numbers | It's easy to skip a number when counting fast. | Point to each object as you count. Touch it and say the number! |
Key Takeaway
Section 8
What Comes Next?
Once you can count to 120, you're ready for some really exciting math! Here's a peek at what you'll learn soon.
| What You Know Now | What You'll Learn Next |
|---|---|
| Count to 120 | Count to 1,000 and even higher! |
| Read & write numerals like 73 | Compare numbers: Is 73 more or less than 68? |
| Know ones and tens | Learn the hundreds place and what each digit really means |
| Count one by one | Skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s to go faster! |
Everything you learn today is the foundation for all the math you'll ever do. Addition, subtraction, multiplication — they all start with counting. You're building the base of a very tall tower!
Section 9
Practice Problems
Try these problems on your own. When you're ready, click "Show Answer" to check your work!
Question 1: What Comes Next?
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Question 2: Count from a Number
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Question 3: How Many Objects?
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Question 4: Real-World Counting
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Question 5: Think About It
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Summary
Let's Review!
Summary
You learned that we use ten digits (0–9) to write every number. Numbers go in order, and each one is one more than the last. When the ones place fills up past 9, it resets to 0 and the tens place goes up by one. The same thing happens when the tens fill up — that's when we reach 100 and start using the hundreds place.
You can start counting at any number less than 120 and count forward — you don't have to start at 1. You can also read and write numerals to show how many objects there are. If you see 15 blocks, you write the numeral 15. If you read the numeral 107, you know that means one hundred seven things. Keep practicing, and you'll be a counting champion! 🌟