Toy Shop Counting Lesson Plan
Kindergarten • Unit 1 Math in Action
Toy Shop Counting Lab
Adapted Differentiated Lesson Plan • Numbers 0 to 5: Count, Represent, & Compare
Standards Focus K.CC.A.1 • K.CC.B.4 • K.CC.B.5 • K.CC.C.6
Core Objective & Big Mathematical Idea
Students act as "Toy Shop Stockers" to inventory, organize, and compare toys on display shelves up to 5. Students demonstrate 1-to-1 correspondence, recognize quantities without recounting (perceptual subitizing to 3, conceptual to 5 with five-frames), match quantities to numerals, and compare groups using more, fewer, and the same.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Access Points
Representation
- Dual five-frames with red/yellow two-color counters
- Iconic dot cards and tactile tactile velvet-dot numeral cards
- Choral counting with finger patterns & clap beats
Action & Expression
- Multiple response modes: bingo daubers, stickers, or drawing
- Verbal response option using sentence stems
- Physical sorting trays with toy figurines
Engagement
- Real-world toy store restocking role-play scenario
- Partner counting check ("Touch & Count Buddy")
- Choice of toy category (cars, bears, blocks, balls)
Three-Tier Differentiation Pathways
Support Pathway (Tier 1: High Scaffolding & Flexible Access) Readiness Focus: 1–3 building to 5
Supports: Fixed linear arrangements with tracking dots; pre-drawn five-frames; finger counting guides; physical counters placed directly on top of pictures before counting.
Target Question: "Can you slide one token onto each toy car? How many tokens did you use?"
Core Pathway (Tier 2: On-Level Practice) Readiness Focus: 1–5 Mastery
Practice: Mixed linear and clustered toy arrangements; matching numeral to quantity; shading five-frames; comparing two toy shelves using vocabulary: more, fewer, same.
Target Question: "Shelf A has 4 trains. Shelf B has 2 trains. Which shelf has more? How do you know?"
Challenge Pathway (Tier 3: Added Challenge & Extension) Readiness Focus: Decomposing & Balancing
Extensions: Part-whole decomposition of 5 (e.g., 2 cars and 3 blocks equal 5 toys); missing quantity puzzles; balancing shelves to make equal sets; constructing two different sets that both total 5.
Target Question: "The toy box holds 5 toys. You already packed 3 robots. How many more toys can fit?"
Unit 1 Math in Action • Differentiated Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
Instructional Flow & Differentiated Station Pacing (45 Min)
Pacing Guide
1. Whole-Group Launch: The Toy Shop Dilemma (10 min) Whole Class
Hook: Display 4 toy teddy bears and 2 toy trucks on a real or illustrated "shelf".
Teacher Script: "Welcome to our Toy Shop! The delivery truck just arrived. We have customers asking for teddy bears and trucks. How many of each do we have? How can we prove which shelf has more?"
Routine: Students show count on fingers first, then chorally count as a student helper taps each toy. Introduce the lesson goal: stock and audit the toy inventory!
2. Differentiated Learning Stations / Small Groups (20 min) Leveled Practice
Station A: Support
Use Toy Shop Support Worksheet with giant 5-frames and counters. Teacher guides 1-to-1 touching: "1 teddy bear, 2 teddy bears..."
Station B: Core
Use Toy Shop Core Worksheet. Students count mixed toys, write numerals 1-5, and color the shelf that has more toys.
Station C: Challenge
Use Toy Shop Challenge Worksheet. Students solve "missing toy" riddles and create two combinations that both total 5 toys.
3. Math Talk & Discourse Circle (10 min) Partner & Whole Group
Gather at the carpet. Pair students with "Turn and Talk" partners:
• "How did you know there were 5 without counting one by one?" (Encourage: "I saw the whole five-frame was full!").
• "What does it mean when two shelves have the same number of toys?" (Match pairs 1-to-1).
4. Wrap-Up & Quick Visual Check (5 min) Formative Exit
Hold up 3 fingers. Students quickly show an equal number of fingers, or stamp 3 dots on their mini whiteboards before line-up.
Observational Rubric & Common Misconceptions
Look-Fors during Independent Work:
- Points to each item exactly once (tagging).
- States the last number counted as the total (cardinality).
- Recognizes 5-frame fill instantly as 5.
Common Misconception & Quick Fix:
Misconception: Student counts faster than they point, recounting the same toy twice.
Quick Fix: Have student physically move a counter off each toy into a cup while saying each number name aloud.
Toy Shop Counting Lab • Kindergarten Unit 1 Page 2 of 2
Toy Shop Counting Support Worksheet
Toy Shop Counting Lab
Support Level
Touch and count the toys. Fill each five-frame to match!
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Touch Each Dot, Count, & Color the 5-Frame You may color, circle, or use bingo dot markers!
Toys on Shelf A
🧸
🧸
Five-Frame
Circle Number
1
2
3
Toys on Shelf B
⚽
⚽
⚽
Five-Frame
Circle Number
2
3
4
Toys on Shelf C
🚗
🚗
🚗
🚗
Five-Frame
Circle Number
3
4
5
Part 2: Which Shelf Has MORE? Circle the Shelf
Shelf 1
🧱 🧱 🧱 🧱
Count:
Shelf 2
🧱 🧱
Count:
Part 3: Stock 3 Toys in the Shop Box
Draw dots or color boxes to show exactly 3 toys in this five-frame:
Toy Shop Counting Lab • Support & Access Worksheet Unit 1 Math in Action
Toy Shop Counting Core Worksheet
Toy Shop Counting Lab
Core Level
Count the toys, fill each five-frame, and compare the shelves!
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Count the Toys, Fill the 5-Frame, & Write the Number Numbers 1 to 5
Item A: Airplanes Scattered
✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Total:
Item B: Sailboats In a line
⛵ ⛵ ⛵
Total:
Item C: Robots Group of 5
🤖 🤖 🤖 🤖 🤖
Total:
Item D: Drums Pair
🥁 🥁
Total:
Part 2: Compare the Two Shelves
Shelf 1: Stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Count:
Shelf 2: Rockets
🚀🚀🚀
Count:
Shelf 1 has
MORE
FEWER
toys than Shelf 2.
Part 3: Stock 4 Toys on the Empty Shelf
Draw 4 toys (balls, cars, or cubes) on the shelf:
Show on Five-Frame:
Toy Shop Counting Lab • Core Worksheet Unit 1 Math in Action
Toy Shop Counting Challenge Worksheet
Toy Shop Counting Lab
Challenge Level
Solve toy shop riddles, break apart 5, and balance the shelves!
Name:
Date:
Challenge 1: The 5-Toy Gift Box (Find the Missing Part) Total = 5
Each special gift box must have exactly 5 toys. Look at what is inside, then draw the missing toys to fill the box!
Box A: Teddy Bears & Blocks
🧸 🧸 + [ Draw missing 🧩 ]
Fill to 5:
🧸
🧸
2 and is 5
Show TWO DIFFERENT ways to pack 5 toys using Cars 🚗 and Balls ⚽:
Way 1:
cars and
balls = 5
Way 2:
cars and
balls = 5
Challenge 2: Make the Shelves EQUAL!
Top Shelf (Trains):
🚂
Has 1 train.
Bottom Shelf (Rockets):
🚀🚀🚀🚀
Has 4 rockets.
How many more trains must you put on the Top Shelf so both shelves have the SAME number?
Add:
trains
Challenge 3: Toy Detective Mystery Number
Read the clues to find the secret number of toys:
- It is more than 2.
- It is fewer than 5.
- It is not 3.
Show on 5-Frame:
Secret Number:
Toy Shop Counting Lab • Challenge Worksheet Unit 1 Math in Action
