Lovey and Big Buddy are both working on recognizing teen numbers. To help them I made a simple DIY number line that has turned out to be a great tool.
Materials
The materials listed are for making one number line. But if you work with small groups of kids or in a classroom setting it may be handy to have multiple number lines to give each child an opportunity to work independently. Amazon links included for reference.
- Paint Stick-like these but also available (and likely free) at your local hardware store.
- Clothepins-we used eleven.
- Permanent marker (one or two colors)
- Ruler
Directions
Use the ruler to draw a straight line down the center of the paint stirrer. I did my best to evenly space the dots along the line. I chose to label the dots and numbers for the landmark numbers in a different color to give the kids a bit of help in ordering the numbers. You may want to list them all in one color depending on the child using the number line.
You might also use the numbers 0 to 10 if you are working on different skills.
Right now the kids are working together to identify and order the numbers along the number line.
As they place the clothespins on the number line they are also working those fine motor muscles.
We also play simple number games once they are done placing the numbers in order. For example, they might find the number that is 2 more than 11 or 1 less then 15. The video below shows some of the number sense activities that work well.
In the classroom I would have loved to have a set of these for kids to use in small group or even whole group math activities. Kids could identify their answers on the number line so that I could check to see that everyone is engaged and monitor how everyone is doing.
Continue working on number sense skills with our free printable domino math activity.
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Lisa Barshak
Love this idea!
Question: How do you keep the marker from bleeding on the clothespins?
Shaunna Evans
Honestly…that’s a struggle! I do find that some clothespins seem to bleed less than others. I also find that the Sharpie Ultra Fine Point markers work very well for writing on clothespins. Here’s an affiliate link if you’re not familiar: http://amzn.to/2fMLuaF
Pam
I am going to take your idea one step farther, I have a child in Special Ed that is now working on decimals and they are really confusing her. I am going to place a decimal on one of the pins and she will love working on this. Bonus, she is also in OT, so she will be working on two things at once. Thanks for the great idea!!
Shaunna Evans
Excellent modification! I love it, Pam! I’ll have to remember it for when we get to decimals.
Emily
Great idea! I’m going to do this but from 0-10. I think on one side of the paint stick I will do it like you did. But on the other I’m going to write the numbers so she can just match them; then she can work her way up to doing it without the numbers on the paint stick.
Shaunna Evans
Those are terrific adaptations for younger kids. Great idea!
Lisa
This is a great idea and I am working on it at this moment. I have had great luck getting free paint sticks at WalMart for anyone who needs to know where to go!
Shaunna Evans
Great, thanks for the tip, Lisa!
Jennifer @ Generation ikid
Thanks for linking up with the Kids Co-Op party last week. I host it on Generation iKid as well as highlighted your post this week 🙂
Jennifer @ Generation iKid
Jolanthe
Great idea! It’s both fun and practical. Thank you for sharing.
Nicole
This idea is adorable! I’m wishing for a kiddo that didn’t know all of his numbers yet! I think I just might have to adapt it for something…
Theres Just One Mommy
I love how simple this is and yet how professional looking! Bonus that they get to work on fine motor skills along with counting! Pinned!
Crystal @ Crystal's Tiny Treasures
Neat idea! It’s times like this I miss the hardware shop ‘freebies’ of North America! I’ll be featuring you this week on Mom’s Library at Crystal’s Tiny Treasures.
Deceptively Educational
This is SUCH a great idea and so easy to pull together! Thanks for sharing at the After School Linky Party!
Angela Meyer
I love this idea and will definitely be trying it with my kiddos still struggling with the tricky teens.
Mary Catherine
LOVE! What a wonderful way to reinforce those tricky teen numbers. 🙂 I’m going to be trying this out in the classroom soon! 🙂
Vanessa @Pre-K Pages
Love this idea! Pinning and scheduled a post on my FB page too 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Justyna
That’s an amazing idea!!!! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!!!! Just love it!!!!!!
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What an awesome idea. My youngest is 9, but all three of my girls would have loved working with something like this.