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Skip Counting Battlements

We’re lucky enough to live in the UK where we have easy access to castles and have 4 or 5 within easy reach of where we live. The kids have loved the castles that we have visited and when it was decided that we were going to have Castles as this weeks #playfulpreschool theme I knew just what we were going to do some skip counting.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

Last year we visited a castle in North Wales and J took it upon himself to start skip counting as we walked along the battlements of the castle touching each and counting in 2’s and then counting odd numbers along the next side of battlements, T at the time was took young to get it and just counted along with him repeating 1 to 16 each time. This year however she’s at the stage were we can work on skip counting again, but like you we can’t just pop to the castle to do it so I quickly set up a castle battlements on a piece of paper and found a knight from the toy collection and set up a short activity for her to do.

Materials needed for skip counting battlements

1 sheet Grey Paper
2 sheets Blue Paper
Glue
Marker Pen
Toy Knight

Learning objectives for skip counting battlements

  • Practice skip counting in 2’s and 10’s
  • Counting on from any number

More Skip Count Activities for Preschoolers

Preparation needed

Cut out the battlements – on a piece of grey paper I cut out 4 sets of battlements. First fold the piece of paper in half so you have a long thin fold. Then cut in half.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

With the paper cut in half cut out the battlements along the middle of this piece of paper as below

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

Repeat on the other sheet and you will have 4 sets of battlements. With a piece of blue paper fold in half as before and cut along the fold. On the bottom edge glue the battlements.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

If you wish to make the battlements reusable you could laminate them and then use a dry wipe marker to add the numbers on with your child.

Skip Counting Battlements

With our battlements complete I started off writing the number 1 on the first battlement and placed the knight on the battlement. I explained that we were going to skip count in 2s with the knight along the battlements. First with T counting I wrote the numbers along the battlements so that she could see the numbers as well as count along with them.Then I explained counting in two’s, she’d heard J do this along the side of the street as in the UK houses on one side are all odd and the other side even numbers. The rule that a knight had to go on ever 2 nd battlement skip counting in 2’s to protect the castle from invaders.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

As we counted she counted on 2 battlements each time and sat the knight down or stood him up as we went along

On the next set of battlements I started at 12 and the knights (and pirates) had to skip count in 2’s from there. T was quick picking up the pattern of every other number and saw the pattern in the battlements quickly.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

Sticking the last two sets of battlements together we started at 10 and skip counted in 10’s from there – 10, 20 etc… and then reinforced by the knight going along the battlement counting in 10’s as well.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

Whilst we were talking about the 10’s she suddenly came out with – Did you know mummy that in the old times in castles they didn’t write 10 like that they wrote it like this and made a X with her fingers – she as X is the Roman Numeral for 10 but no idea where that knowledge came from.

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

More castle themed

Colour Sorting Castle for preschoolers – Life over C’s

Sand Castle Puffy Paintings – Still Playing School

Graham Cracker Castles; preschool engineering – Capri + 3

Castle Catapult Maths – Mom Inspired Life

Cardboard Castle Reading Nook – Growing Book by Book

CVC Activities build the castle of Arendelle – Learning to Walk

Skip Counting Battlements – You are Here!

Magnetic Cereal Box Castle Theatre – The Educators’ Spin On It

Make your Own Knights Helmet and Sword

Skip Counting Battlements - Castle themed math activity for counting in 2's, 10's and 5's

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

5 Comments

  1. Can’t even start to describe my struggle with my daughters homework when it comes to counting in 2, 5 and 10. It’s a nightmare as she completely does not understand the concept. I will definately make these bods over the weekend and start visualizing IR for her so it will hopefully become easier to learn and understand. Thanks!

  2. What a great math activity. We have been working on skip counting. Our kids love castles, so this would be a perfect fit!

  3. Brilliant fun! And the Roman Numeral knowledge…what a smartie!

  4. This is a really smart idea! It’s a perfect math activity for a castle theme.

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