Highland View – Skip Counting by 2s

Have your student take the number walk from zero to twenty. As your student steps on each number, encourage them to simultaneously say the number name. If the counting gets ahead of the number they are stepping on, encourage them to go back and start over. Stepping on the number and saying the number name simultaneously builds skill in one-to-one correspondence. Be sure your student’s stepping is in sync with saying the number!

Have your students match up the numerals with the same number of objects. Place one object on number one. Place two objects on number two. Choose two of the same thing—like two shoes, two books, or two toy cars. Place three objects on number three. Consider choosing three mittens, rocks, or spoons. Continue placing objects on the numbers! For bigger numbers like ten, try ten pennies, paper clips, or acorns. (If real objects are not available, try printing out images of common objects instead!)

Have your student jump on the one and say “one.” Then, have them crouch down and trace the number one with two fingers and say, “o-n-e, one.” Then, have them count the one dot on the mat by touching the dot and counting out loud. Next, have your student jump on the two and say “two.” Then, have them crouch down and trace the number two with two fingers and say “t-w-o, two.” Then, have them count the two dots on the mat by touching each dot and counting each one out loud. Continue for each number to twenty.

Write addition and subtraction problems on cards and use the mat as a number line. If the math problem says 8 + 3, the student will stand on the eight and take three steps forward to eleven. Make sure the students say the numbers they are on as they move through the mat. For subtraction problems, have students walk backward.

Have a student start on zero. Then, have them point out the pattern that the blue boxes with the feet follow. Explain to them that these boxes are showing the multiples of two.

Whisper Loud: To begin learning multiples of two, start with the whisper loud technique to have students jump down the mat. Have students follow this pattern: Jump on the one. Whisper, “one.” Jump on the two. Shout, “TWO!” Jump on the three. Whisper, “three.” Jump on the four. Shout, “FOUR!” Continue with this pattern down the mat to twenty.

Skip Counting: Once they are more comfortable with the multiples of two, you can have students skip count down the mat, only jumping on the blue boxes. Make sure they are saying the number confidently and correctly when they land on each multiple. If their jumps get ahead of the numbers, have them start again.

Give a student a multiplication by 2s problem (verbally, flashcard, worksheet, etc.). Example: 2 x 6
The student will begin on 0. They will jump forward 6 times, only landing on the multiples of two. When they land on the sixth number, 12, they will say, “2 x 6 = 12.”

You can also have students practice each multiplication fact as they hop down the mat: Jump on 2. Say, “2 x 1 = 2.” Jump on 4. Say, “2 x 2 = 4,” etc.