Counters

Counters are a great resource that we can use in mathematics in a number of ways, for example to show patterns, to model our thinking or to keep track of moves. We have put together a number of activities that all use counters - can you work out the different ways in which the counters are used? Can you find some ways which aren't mentioned? Are there examples where stones or pebbles would be just as good? Are there examples where the roundness of the counter matters? Are there examples where lots of the same thing is important?