# Day 21 — Count a new arrangement

**25 minutes · AC9MFN01 and AC9MFN03 (0–20 representations and quantifying); partial practice · educator review pending**

**Success:** The child counts a loose collection to 20 with one count action per object and uses the final count as the total, then matches its numeral.

**Prepare per pair:** up to 20 large objects, two mats, cards 0–20 and two ten-frames. Use an uncounted supply and [print-aids.md](print-aids.md).

1. **Retrieve, 3 min.** Show an empty mat and a 10-object frame. Ask for the totals and numerals `0` and `10`.
2. **Model, 6 min.** Scatter 17 objects. Move each once to the second mat while counting aloud. Say, “Seventeen was the last number I said, so there are seventeen altogether.” Show `17`. Rearrange without adding or removing; recount to verify.
3. **Guided game, 9 min.** Partners choose a pretend order: 16 library markers, 19 garden labels, or 12 blanket cards for an animal shelter. One builds a loose set; the other counts and chooses the numeral, then swap. Ask “How did you make sure none was counted twice?”
4. **Fresh try, 4 min.** Give 14 loose objects and cards `13/14/15`. “How many? Choose its card.” Then let the child lay the objects in a new shape and say whether the total changed.
5. **Check, 3 min.** Show 20 in two full ten-frames. Ask for the whole total. **Key:** independent loose set 14, card `14`, unchanged after rearrangement; two full frames total 20.

**If an object is skipped or counted twice:** Move each to a receiving mat exactly once and repeat at the smallest successful range. If a child names the last object “fourteen” but answers “many,” sweep a hand around the collection and link the last count word to the whole set.

**Access and record:** Grippable objects, separate raised mats, large/tactile cards, spoken descriptions and directed partner movement are available. Accept speech, sign, AAC, pointing or objects. Record count actions, final total, numeral link, range and cues.