Numbers

Numbers can be learned by students of any age, and it's usually a popular topic.

Activities

• Four Corners. Go to corners of different numbers and hope the teacher doesn't choose theirs.
• Duck Duck Goose. A student walks around the circle counting up, tagging someone, and running back to his seat.
• Number Tag. Teacher calls a number and students make groups of that number or get tagged.
• Rocket Countdown. Count down to 1 and jump.
• Otedama Game. Beanbags and counting up to 12.
• Counting Race. Groups count as fast as they can.
• Listen and Order. Listen to the teacher say numbers out of order and put cards in that order.
• Midnight. Students listen for their number and run around a circle.
• Number Guessing Game. Students guess how many tokens their partner is holding.
• Number Janken. Janken and do actions some number of times.
• Seven Steps. Count and clap to the song Seven Steps.
• Steal the Bacon. Students race to grab an eraser when they hear their number.
• Wave Making. Count up in a circle, making a wave.
• Bowling. Bowling, keeping score in English.
• Secret Number Game. Guess a student's secret number to move the student to your team.
• Dice Game. Practice numbers by rolling dice.
• Dynamite Clapping Game. Make a circle and count with various rules.
• Opposite Fingers. Count to 8 with your fingers.
• Snake Eyes. Roll dice to win tokens from the pot.
• Spoons. Students trade playing cards until they get a straight.
• I Doubt It!. Card game where you lie about what you're playing.
• Number Rocket. Roll dice and write numbers in order on a rocket.
• The Throne. Call numbers and move chairs until one team is sitting on the thrones.
• Michael's Number Tic-Tac-Toe. Listening tic-tac-toe.
• Pass the Number. Listen to music, pass number cards, and answer questions when the music stops.
• Unlucky Number 13. Count up to 13 by 1s, 2s, or 3s, trying not to say 13.
• Formula Game. Form equations that equal a number.
• Around the World. Call out numbers quickly.
• Writing Race. Race to write numbers on the board.
• Fast Tapping Game. Tap numbers on backs and write the number.
• Hot Potato. A Hot Potato variation using dice and easy math.

Notes

• If you're using numbers but not studying them, tell your students it's OK (but a little wrong) to say "one three" instead of "thirteen", if they just can't remember.
• It's easy to teach if you use one of the following ranges for your lesson: 1-10, 1-12, 11-20, 20-39, 20-90 (by tens), 20-99 (by ones), 100-999.
• In katakana English, plus is "purasu", minus is "mainasu", and "equals" is "ikoru". Elementary school students know these words.
• 2nd grade elementary school students learn time and clocks in April. So, you can do lessons using time from that point on.
• 2nd grade students learn to add and subtract (up to hundreds) and multiply (up to 9x9). 3rd grade students learn division.

See also

• General-use games.
• Teaching resources