Numbers

Introduction

In this lesson learners play a numbers game and try some maths, listen to and read a story, then play a board game. They talk about numbers in a class discussion and then either write a comment online or complete a worksheet on this topic for homework.

Learning Outcomes:

• Review small numbers
• Practise larger numbers
• Do simple maths in English
• Practise basic listening, speaking and writing skills

Age and level:

9–12 years (CEFR A1+)

Time:

Approximately 110 minutes over two lessons.

Materials:

1. Lesson plan

2. Light card, glue and scissors for craft work

3. ‘Record breakers’ Story, activity sheet, answers and transcript: https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/short-stories/record-breakers

4. Craft activity: ‘Snakes and ladders’ https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/crafts/snakes-and-ladders

Lesson one (55 minutes)

Before the lesson

• Prepare one counter and dice for snakes and ladders
• Have the boards, counters, dice, glue, scissors and card ready
   

Warmer (10 minutes)

• Play one of the numbers word games online. 
• Alternatively, draw a circle on the board and write various numbers inside it.
• Divide the class into two groups. Ask one learner from each group to come to the board and give each one a pen. 
• Tell groups that you will give 3 quiet points to the group that is quietest throughout the game.
• Say a number. The first learner to cross it out gets a point for their team. Mark the points on the board. 
• Change the team members and repeat the activity several times.
• Award quiet points and announce the winning group.
  Note: If you have a large class you may need to create 3 or 4 groups, so more learners get the opportunity to be actively involved. 
   

Discussion (10 minutes)

• Ask the learners the following questions:

1. Have you got a lucky number? 
2. What do different numbers mean in your country? 
3. Are some luckier than others? 

• Discuss the questions as a class. 
• Ask, 'Can you count backwards very quickly?' Can you count backwards from 20 to 0 in English?
• Children can work with their partner to practise counting backwards in English.
   

Preparation for board game (10 minutes)

• Print enough copies of the board game and dice and counters craft activity for groups of three or four. 
• Children cut out and make the dice and counters.
• Hold up a copy of the board. Ask learners if they know the game.
• Elicit the words ‘snakes and ladders’. Elicit the rules of the game or display the instructions and read through them as a class. 
• Ask the class what happens if they land on a ladder (they move to the top of the ladder) and a snake (they slide down to the bottom of the snake).
• Drill useful game playing expressions such as:

1. It’s my/your turn
2. Shake the dice
3. Move the counter
4. I’ve finished 
   
    

Play a board game (20 mins)

• Put learners into groups. Sit down with one of the stronger groups. Ask the other learners to stand up around your group to see how the game is played. 
• Put down the board, roll the dice and move your counter. Use the target language: “It’s my turn. I’ll shake the dice. What should I do now?” Learners should tell you to move the counter. Prompt them again if necessary.
• Check with the group that you’ve moved correctly. 
• Ask the children in the playing group to take their turn. If anyone lands on a ladder or snake elicit from the whole group what that student must do.
• After all learners of the playing group has had a turn ask all students to sit down
  Give out the boards to each group
• Groups begin to play a game of snakes and ladders. 
• As learners play the game, monitor and help as necessary. Make the game more challenging by telling learners to spell the number of the square that they land on.
   

Homework (5 minutes)

• If your learners are members of LearnEnglish Kids, they can also read the comments on the ‘Numbers’ Your turn and leave their own comment on the page.
• Alternatively, you could give them one of the ‘Numbers’ worksheets to try at home.
   

Lesson two (55 minutes)

Introduction to sums (10 minutes)

• Write two or three simple sums on the board, e.g. 12 + 5 = ___ or 21 - 4 = ___
• Ask for volunteers to write the answers. Use these examples to teach or revise ‘plus’, ‘minus’, ‘equals’. Now dictate some simple sums to the class; the learners write and answer. In pairs learners take turns to dictate simple sums to each other.
   

Numbers review (10 minutes)

• Write the following numbers on the board and elicit or drill how to say them:  10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 
• After a group drill, point at each number randomly and nominate a learner to say the number until all numbers have been repeated.
   

8.    Preparation for story (10- 20 minutes)

• Write the numbers 3,750 (three thousand seven hundred and fifty) and 61.24 (sixty-one point two four) on the board. Ask learners if they know how to say these numbers, then drill them with the class.
• If learners need more practice read the following and ask learners to write the following numbers in their notebooks;
  a)    43.26
  b)    28, 460
  c)    67.31
  d)    93, 710
  e)    54, 890
   

Story (20 mins)

• Play the ‘Record breakers’ story. Very large numbers are practised in the story as the girl tries to break lots of fun world records. 
• Play the story at least twice. During the first listening ask them to remember what the world records are. 
• During the second listening and reading you could ask them to do the matching exercises from the worksheet. The second part of this provides practice in reading and recognising very large numbers.
   

Homework (5 minutes)

• Show learners the Magic Monkey game to play at home. They have to follow the monkey's instructions and think of a number.

Additional optional materials

1. Word games: ‘Numbers 1-10’, ‘Numbers 11-20’ and ‘Numbers 10-100’ https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/numbers-1-10  https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/numbers-11-20 https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/word-games/numbers-10-100

2. Game: ‘Magic Monkey’ https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/games/magic-monkey

3. Your turn: ‘Numbers’ https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/your-turn/numbers

4. Worksheets: ‘Numbers’ https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/worksheets/numbers