Order and compare numbers

Counting
Give each child in the class a card with a number between 1 and 20.

Together, count along the washing line from 1 to 20.

Then children close their eyes whilst you turn round 3 cards so their numbers are not visible. Children open eyes and hold up their card if they think it’s one of the missing numbers. They explain where it is on the line.

Repeat several times across the unit, swapping children’s numbers.

Chants/Rhymes/Songs
Ten in the bed (see resources for lyrics).

Story
Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton.

One hippo calls another hippo. so now there are two. Then another hippo is called to make three. So the story proceeds… Children love it when they go berserk!

You could print pictures of hippos and ask children to come up to form a human number line as each new hippo is added, reinforcing this unit’s theme of ordering and comparing numbers.

Exploring and Playing
Play-dough; small objects to stick into the play-dough e.g. beads, counters, buttons etc; large number track 1-12 (see resources); dominoes; sand; small stone, shells; camera; low washing line; pegs; stickers; pens; socks.

Active Learning
Cardboard box; Number cards 0-9 (see resources); sandpaper numerals; 1-20 number track (see resources); soft toy for each child; Number cards 1-20 (see resources); counters; Blank cards (see resources); counters; Rosettes (see resources); pens; scissors.

Creating and Thinking Critically
Number cards 1-20 (see resources); interlocking cubes; counters; Name tag templates (see resources); Number track 1-20 (see resources); counters.