--- title: "Counting forwards and backwards" description: "Count forwards and backwards in steps of 3 from 0" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-forwards-and-backwards-mt_aHAM29nidj source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-forwards-and-backwards-mt_aHAM29nidj.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Counting forwards and backwards Count forwards and backwards in steps of 3 from 0 Subject: Mathematics · Area: Counting & Cardinality · Ages 6 to 7 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-forwards-and-backwards-mt_aHAM29nidj ## Ready when they can - Count 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 … up to at least 30 - Count backwards in 3s from 30 - Identify the next number in a sequence of multiples of 3 ## Lesson: Counting by threes You already know how to count by 2s. Counting by 3s works the same way, except you add 3 each time instead of 2. Start at 0: 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and keep going. Every number you land on is called a multiple of three. *(drawing: Each hop lands on a multiple of three: 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30.)* **Example.** Zara stacks blocks in towers of three. She counts the towers: 3, 6, 9, 12. She has four towers, twelve blocks in all. *(drawing: Take away 3 each time: 30, 27, 24, 21, 18, then what comes next?)* **Tip.** To count backward by 3s, do the opposite: take away 3 each time instead of adding it. If you lose track, count forward by 3s until you reach your starting number, then say the numbers back in reverse. **Recap.** Add 3 to count forward, take away 3 to count backward: 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30. ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-in-2s-5s-and-10s-mt_nvdpxAJTBG) ## Opens up - [Counting forwards and backwards (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/counting-forwards-and-backwards-age-9-mt_tAtMET4EIU)