Free Grade 3 Counting Backwards Lesson Plans
Free Grade 3 lesson plans for Counting Backwards: 12 real questions with a full answer key and worked solutions. Counting on means saying the next numbers in order, adding the same amount each time. Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s is the first step towards times tables.
Free
Stretch
25 min
24
Learning objectives
Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.
- UnderstandExplain counting backwards
Explain counting backwards accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- ApplyCalculate counting backwards
Calculate counting backwards accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- AnalyseCompare counting backwards
Compare counting backwards accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- EvaluateJustify counting backwards
Justify counting backwards accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
Prerequisites
Close these gaps first — each has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
How Counting Backwards works
Counting on means saying the next numbers in order, adding the same amount each time. Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s is the first step towards times tables.
12 practice questions
Easy to hard, 24 marks in total. Try them first, then open the answers.
- 1.Count on in 2s: 0, 2, 4, 6, __, __[1]
- 2.Count on in 1s: 9, 10, 11, 12, __, __[1]
- 3.Count on in 1s: 1, 2, 3, 4, __, __[1]
- 4.Count on in 2s: 8, 10, 12, 14, __, __[1]
- 5.Count on in 2s: 26, 28, 30, 32, __, __[2]
- 6.Count on in 2s: 58, 60, 62, 64, __, __[2]
- 7.Count on in 5s: 10, 15, 20, 25, __, __[2]
- 8.Count on in 2s: 30, 32, 34, 36, __, __[2]
- 9.Count on in 5s: 15, 20, 25, 30, __, __[3]
- 10.Count on in 5s: 55, 60, 65, 70, __, __[3]
- 11.Count on in 10s: 150, 160, 170, 180, __, __[3]
- 12.Count on in 10s: 210, 220, 230, 240, __, __[3]
Show answers and working
1. 8, 10
Each number is 2 more than the one before. 6 + 2 = 8 8 + 2 = 10
2. 13, 14
Each number is 1 more than the one before. 12 + 1 = 13 13 + 1 = 14
3. 5, 6
Each number is 1 more than the one before. 4 + 1 = 5 5 + 1 = 6
4. 16, 18
Each number is 2 more than the one before. 14 + 2 = 16 16 + 2 = 18
5. 34, 36
Each number is 2 more than the one before. 32 + 2 = 34 34 + 2 = 36
6. 66, 68
Each number is 2 more than the one before. 64 + 2 = 66 66 + 2 = 68
7. 30, 35
Each number is 5 more than the one before. 25 + 5 = 30 30 + 5 = 35
8. 38, 40
Each number is 2 more than the one before. 36 + 2 = 38 38 + 2 = 40
9. 35, 40
Each number is 5 more than the one before. 30 + 5 = 35 35 + 5 = 40
10. 75, 80
Each number is 5 more than the one before. 70 + 5 = 75 75 + 5 = 80
11. 190, 200
Each number is 10 more than the one before. 180 + 10 = 190 190 + 10 = 200
12. 250, 260
Each number is 10 more than the one before. 240 + 10 = 250 250 + 10 = 260
Worked examples
Count on in 1s: 2, 3, 4, 5, __, __
- Each number is 1 more than the one before.
- 5 + 1 = 6
- 6 + 1 = 7
- Answer: 6, 7
Count on in 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, __, __
- Each number is 2 more than the one before.
- 8 + 2 = 10
- 10 + 2 = 12
- Answer: 10, 12
Count on in 5s: 50, 55, 60, 65, __, __
- Each number is 5 more than the one before.
- 65 + 5 = 70
- 70 + 5 = 75
- Answer: 70, 75
Interactive practice
Free, no account required — answer on screen or print it.
Common mistakes
What learners typically get wrong, and how to fix it.
Says the starting number as the first count when counting on.
Correction: Point to the start number, then say the NEXT number as 'one'.
Loses the pattern when crossing a ten (e.g. 28, 29, 20).
Correction: Use a 100 square so the child sees the row change.
Teacher tips
- · Use a 100 square and colour each skip-count pattern in a different colour.
Parent tips
- · Count stairs in 2s or cars in 5s on a walk.
Real-life applications
- · Counting coins in 5s and 10s, counting pairs of socks in 2s.
Assessment objectives
How mastery is evidenced, and which standards it maps to.
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Frequently asked
- Is this Grade 3 Counting Backwards lesson plan really free?
- Yes. Every lesson plans on FreeMathWorksheet is free to use, print and share — no account, no paywall and no watermark.
- What should a learner already know before this?
- Start with Counting Forwards, Whole Numbers. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
- How is the lesson plan sequenced?
- Recognition first, then understanding, application, reasoning and finally mastery — the same ladder used across every free resource on the platform.
- What comes next after Counting Backwards?
- Move on to Skip Counting, Counting in Groups, Whole Numbers, Number Recognition, which build directly on this idea.
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