Maryland Math K.NOS.A.3

MathKindergartenNumber and Operation Sense

The Standard

Count backwards from any given number within 20.

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics (2025) · KNOW NUMBER NAMES AND THE COUNT SEQUENCE.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students start at any number from 0 to 20 and count backward to 0. They say each number in order without skipping or repeating one.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can start at 20, 14, or 7 and count down to 0 without first counting up from 1. They say 11, 10, 9 in the right order.
Common Misconceptions: Some students start at 20 even when given a different number. Others skip 10 after 11 or stop at 1 instead of 0.
How to Assess It: Say, “Start at 18 and count backward to 0.” Listen for skipped numbers, especially at 11, 10, and 9.

Lesson moves

Build a tower of 16 cubes, say 16, then remove one cube and say the number left until you reach 0.
Ask, “When you count backward from 12, what comes after 11, and how do you know?”
Play Countdown Cards: draw a number card from 1 to 20, count down to 0, and have a partner check with a number line.
Use a 20-second handwashing timer; read its current number aloud and count backward together until it reaches 0.

Free download

$Preview of the K.NOS.A.3 printable worksheet$

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