All Activities
Maths

Make Number Lines

Overview

Children build and use simple number lines.

Learning Objective
Children understand number order using a number line.

Resources needed

  • Paper
  • Chalk
  • Number cards

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Draw a number line.
  2. 2 Place numbers in order.
  3. 3 Count along the line.
  4. 4 Jump forward and backward.
  5. 5 Ask: 'What number comes next?'
  6. 6 Use the line to solve simple problems.
  7. 7 Encourage children to create their own.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Use outdoor space
  • Leave gaps to fill in
  • Use larger numbers
More information

A number line drawn on the ground with chalk or stones is durable and reusable across sessions.

Use a 0–5 number line before extending to 0–10 or beyond.

Can children use the line to find answers to simple addition and subtraction problems?

Scratch a line into soil and place stones at equal intervals for each number. Write numerals with a stick or chalk. No paper, rulers, or printed resources needed.

Children sometimes count the marks on a number line rather than the spaces — for example, thinking there are 5 steps between 0 and 5 when they count 6 marks (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Use movement on a physical line to make the steps concrete.