Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics · Numbers and Counting

Numerals and Numbers All Around Us

A6.3 A6.1About 25 minutes

Learning goals

I can read the numerals 0 to 10 and match them to groups of things.
I can try to write some numerals.
I can find numbers around me and tell what they are for.
I can read some bigger numbers, like 12 or 15.

Words to know

numeral
The written sign for a number, like 3 or 7.

zero
None. Nothing at all. We write it 0.

calendar
A chart of the days in a month. Each day has a number.

Number detectives!

Grown-up: read aloud.

Numbers are hiding everywhere! On the front door. On the clock. On a birthday cake. Today we are number detectives. First, let's learn what the numbers look like.

A white birthday cake with sprinkles has three lit candles on top. — How many candles are on the cake? The numeral 3 goes with 3 candles. AI-generated image

Numerals

We can say a number, like "three". We can write a number, like 3. The written number is called a numeral.

Each numeral matches a group. The numeral 3 goes with 3 things.

Numeral	Word	How many
0	zero	(none)
1	one	⚫
2	two	⚫⚫
3	three	⚫⚫⚫
4	four	⚫⚫⚫⚫
5	five	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
6	six	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
7	seven	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
8	eight	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
9	nine	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
10	ten	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫

Numerals 0 to 10 with their words and dots.

An empty ten frame shows zero. There is nothing there.

Worked example

Match the numeral to the group

Which numeral goes with these apples: 2, 4, or 6?

Count the apples: 1, 2, 3, 4.
The last number was 4.
Find the numeral 4.

The numeral 4 goes with 4 apples.

🍎🍎🍎🍎

Worked example

Let's write the numeral 2

Let's write a 2 in the air with a big arm!

Start at the top. Go around like a hook: curve over.
Slide down to the bottom corner.
Go straight across the bottom.
Now try it with a finger in sand, flour, or on a foggy window.

A 2: curve over, slide down, straight across.

Backwards numbers are normal

It is very common for 4- and 5-year-olds to write some numerals backwards, like a backwards 3 or 7. That's okay! It gets better with practice.

Numbers past 10

The number 12 means 10 and 2 more. Look at the ten frames: one full ten frame is 10, and 2 more makes 12.

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵

🔵🔵

10 and 2 more is 12.

What are numbers for?

Numbers help us in lots of ways:

How many: "I have 3 crackers."
Which one: our house number, the bus number, or the day on the calendar.
How old: "I am 5!" (5 candles on the cake.)
What time: the numbers on a clock.
How cold: the thermometer in winter.
Calling: a phone number, like 9-1-1 for emergencies.

🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️

5 candles on a birthday cake for a 5-year-old.

Just for fun

What did the 0 say to the 8?

“Nice belt!” 😄 (Look at an 8. It looks like a 0 with a belt around the middle!)

Hands-on activity

Number hunt

You need: your eyes, and maybe paper and a crayon.

Walk around your home. Find numbers on the clock, the microwave, the TV remote, a calendar, the phone, food boxes.
Go outside. Look at house numbers, street signs, licence plates, the bus, and price tags at the store.
For each number you find, say the numeral if you can. Talk about what it is for.
Make numeral cards 0 to 10 on paper. Put that many crackers or blocks next to each card.

Math talk: "Is this number telling us how many, or which one?"

Your turn

Grown-up: write 3, 8 and 5 on paper. Point to the numeral three.

Count the stars. Which numeral matches: 5 or 6?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What numeral means none, nothing at all?

Say these numerals out loud: 1, 4, 7, 10.

Write the numeral 1 in the air with your finger.

Find one number in your home. What is it for?

More practice: warm-up

Grown-up: write 2 and 9. Point to two.

How old are you? Hold up that many fingers, and say the number.

Count the ducks. Which numeral matches: 2 or 3?

🦆🦆🦆

Say this numeral: 8

What number do we call in an emergency?

More practice: on your own

Grown-up: write 6 and 9 on paper. Point to nine.

Count the fish. What numeral shows how many?

🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

Put out the right number of blocks for the numeral 5.

A house has the number 10 on the door. Does the 10 tell how many people live there?

Write the numeral 0.

Challenge

One full ten frame is 10. There is a second ten frame with 2 more. What number is that?

Grown-up: show a calendar. Point to the number 15.

Grown-up: write 10, 13 and 20. Which one is thirteen?

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which numeral is four?

How many? Which numeral matches?

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

What does 0 mean?

A birthday cake has 5 candles. What does the 5 tell us?

Which numeral is ten?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Children need to link three things: the number word ("five"), the numeral (5), and the quantity (5 objects). They also learn that numbers have different jobs: telling how many, naming which one (a house number, a day on the calendar), and measuring (age, time, temperature).

Common difficulties:

Mixing up 6 and 9, or 2 and 5. Point out how they are different, and practise with real objects.
Writing numerals backwards. Normal at this age. Make writing fun and large: in the air, in sand, with chalk. Don't worry about neat printing yet.
Saying 12 as "one-two". Connect teen numbers to "10 and some more" with ten frames or egg cartons.

How to help: Go on number hunts. Read the calendar each morning. Let your child press the numbers on the microwave. Read counting books together. Talk about 9-1-1 and when to use it.

Next: the lesson Numbers 11 to 20 builds on this, so your child can read and write all the numbers to 20.