Skip Counting Game with Marbles for School Maths Lab

Quick Answer: The Skip Counting Game with Marbles is a counting board on which children place marbles at equal intervals, such as every second or every fifth position, to practise counting in steps. The skip counting game makes multiples and number patterns visible and prepares children for multiplication tables.

Counting in Equal Steps

Skip counting means counting forward by the same amount each time: 2, 4, 6, 8, or 5, 10, 15, 20. Boards made for this game generally have a row or grid of positions that hold marbles; a child places a marble in every second, third or fifth position and says the count aloud. The marbles stay evenly spaced all the way along, which is the physical meaning of a multiple.

Patterns appear quickly. Marbles on multiples of 2 alternate with empty spaces, multiples of 5 end in 5 or 0, and a position that receives a marble both when counting in 2s and when counting in 3s turns out to be a multiple of 6. Counting the marbles themselves links skip counting to multiplication: four marbles placed while counting in 5s reach 20, so 4 × 5 = 20.

Marbles are small and roll, so the game needs a flat table and supervision with younger children. The number of positions and marbles and the board material should be confirmed at enquiry.

Specifications

Applications

• Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, then in 3s and 4s
• Finding common multiples by marking two skip counts on the same board
• Linking the number of marbles to repeated addition and multiplication
• Counting backwards in steps to introduce division

Care & Handling

• Count the marbles back into their pot after each game, and keep them away from children who still put objects in their mouths.
• Play on a flat table with a tray nearby to catch dropped marbles.
• Wipe the board dry and cover it in storage so the marble positions do not collect dust.

Why Choose LabEquip

Primary teachers who use loose Marbles for general counting find that this board gives them a structure, and Beads with String show the same equal-step idea along a line. LabEquip lists these in its Mathematics School Lab Products range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is skip counting?

It is counting forward or backward by the same number each time, for example in 2s (2, 4, 6, 8) or in 10s (10, 20, 30). It is the step between counting in ones and knowing multiplication tables.

How does skip counting lead to multiplication?

Each marble placed while counting in 3s adds 3 more. After five marbles the count reaches 15, so five groups of 3 make 15, written 5 × 3 = 15. Children who can skip count can work out a times-table fact they have not yet memorised.

Which numbers should children skip count by first?

Most teachers start with 10s, then 2s and 5s, because the patterns in those are easiest to hear and see. Counting in 3s and 4s comes next, followed by the harder steps of 6, 7, 8 and 9.

How can the game show common multiples?

Mark one skip count, say in 2s, then another, in 3s, and look for positions chosen both times. Those positions, 6, 12, 18 and so on, are the common multiples, and the first of them is the lowest common multiple.

Are marbles safe for young children?

Marbles are a choking hazard for children who still mouth objects, so the game should be played under supervision and kept away from very young children. For older primary children, a tray and a clear count at the end of play keep the marbles under control.

Can the game be used for division?

Yes. Start at a number such as 24 and count back in 4s, placing or removing a marble at each step until zero is reached. The number of steps, six, is the answer to 24 ÷ 4.

Last Updated: September 2026