Montana Math MT.K.CC.5

MathKindergartenCounting and Cardinality

The Standard

Count to answer "how many?" in a variety of arrangements and, given a number, produce a set within 20.

2026 Montana Mathematics Content Standards

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students count objects in rows, circles, and scattered groups to find how many there are. They also make a group of objects to match a number up to 20.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student touches each object once while counting and uses the last number said to tell how many. Given 16 cubes, they can spread them out and count them again without changing the total.
Common Misconceptions: Students may skip an object or count one twice when objects are scattered. They may think spreading a group out makes it bigger, or that the last number they say names only the last object.
How to Assess It: Put 13 scattered counters on a table and ask, 'How many are there?' Then give the student a pile of cubes and ask them to make a group of 16.

Lesson moves

Give pairs 15 buttons to count in a line, then scatter the same buttons and count again.
Show nine dots in a row and nine in a circle; ask, 'Did the amount change? How do you know?'
Play number-card draw: students flip a card from 1 to 20, build that many cubes, and have a partner check.
At the supply table, ask students to count 17 pencils in a tub, then set out 10 pencils for their group.

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