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The Counting Groups Question block lets learners complete missing labels under grouped images. It’s perfect for teaching counting, skip counting, and grouping concepts where learners need to fill in the missing numbers. Learners view groups of objects and complete the counting sequence by filling in blank labels. Their answers are automatically marked against your specified correct answers.
For demonstration purposes where learners just view counting groups without assessment, use the Counting Groups block instead.

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When to use Counting Groups Question blocks

Counting Groups Question blocks work well for:
  • Skip counting practice (counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, etc.)
  • Building number sequence understanding
  • Teaching grouping and multiplication readiness
  • Assessing counting fluency with visual supports
  • Reinforcing repeated addition concepts

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Settings

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Question setup

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Count by
number
default:"5"
The number to count by for skip counting sequences (1–1000).
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Instruction
text
default:""
Custom instruction text to display above the counting groups (up to 1000 characters).

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Visual settings

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Layout
select
default:"horizontal"
How the groups are arranged:
  • Horizontal: Groups appear in a single row
  • Wrap: Groups wrap to new lines when needed
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Label position
select
default:"below"
Where labels appear relative to each group:
  • Below: Labels appear under the groups
  • Above: Labels appear over the groups
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Show dividers
switch
default:"false"
When enabled, shows visual dividers between groups to make grouping clearer.
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Group spacing
select
default:"medium"
The amount of space between groups:
  • Small: Compact spacing
  • Medium: Standard spacing
  • Large: Generous spacing

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Groups

Create your counting groups by adding images and setting their properties:
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Image
image
The image to display for this group. Choose images that clearly show the quantity.
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Image alt text
text
Descriptive text for screen readers (up to 200 characters).
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Item count
number
How many items this group represents (0–10,000). This doesn’t need to match the actual objects in the image.
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Label
text
The label text to show under this group. Leave blank to create a fillable gap.
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Show label
switch
default:"true"
Whether to show the label for this group. Turn off to hide labels completely.

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Answer settings

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Accept numeric equivalent
switch
default:"true"
When enabled, accepts mathematically equivalent answers (e.g., “10” and “ten”).
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Answer groups
textarea
Group IDs that should have fillable answers, one per line. Use the group IDs shown in the editor.
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Correct answers
textarea
The correct answer for each answerable group, formatted as “groupId: answer”, one per line.

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Tips for teachers and parents

Best practices:
  • Start with simple counting by 1s before introducing skip counting
  • Use consistent visual groupings that clearly show the quantity
  • Leave strategic gaps in the sequence to create meaningful challenges
  • Use the Generate labels from count by action to quickly create skip counting sequences
  • Mix shown and hidden labels to provide scaffolding and assessment opportunities
  • Choose images where the quantity is easily countable or clearly represents the target number
Creating effective questions:
  • For beginners: Show most labels and ask for just one or two missing numbers
  • For practice: Create longer sequences with regular gaps
  • For assessment: Mix different types of gaps (beginning, middle, end of sequence)
  • Use familiar objects in images to reduce cognitive load
  • Ensure the counting sequence makes logical sense with your chosen intervals
Extensions:
  • Connect to multiplication by showing groups of the same size
  • Use different group sizes to explore various skip counting patterns
  • Combine with written explanations asking learners to describe the pattern
  • Follow up with related activities using arrays or number lines