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Ordinal numbers

Ed is off to the big race! I wonder who will be racing?

Learning intention

Students will learn how to:

use ordinal numbers 1st to 5th to describe position/order.

Success criteria

I will know I have been successful if I can:

  • order objects from 1st to 5th
  • read ordinal numbers 1st to 5th
  • describe the position of an object using ordinal numbers.

Prerequisites

Numerals 1 to 5, count forwards 1 to 5

Language

Reinforce the use of mathematical language: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, last

Before the video

  • Download the Mathletics ordinal numbers wall display from the bottom of this page. Compare the ordinal numbers with the counting sequence 1 to 5. Read the ordinal numbers together.
  • Ask 5 students to line up. Count the ordinal numbers of the students together as a class. Move along the line and choose 1 student. The other students say their ordinal number and that student sits down. Repeat until all students are sitting down again.

During the video

First viewing:

Watch the video without stopping or pausing. Then, ask the children to explain what happened in the video. Begin to draw out key vocabulary or possible misconceptions.

Second viewing:

Pause point Key learning Action/discussion
1:30 Recognizing 1st to 3rd Talk about what it means to come first, second or third in a race or a competition.
6:10 Linking ordinal and cardinal numbers 1-5 Show the numbers 1-5 in order and ask students to count the ordinal equivalents.

After the video

Ordering counters:

  • Provide each pair of students with 5 different coloured counters.
  • Ask the students to place the red counter first, the blue second etc. Then check.
  • Line up different coloured counters then ask questions, eg. What colour is the fourth counter?

Race to first place:

  • In groups of up to 5, have the students compete in various fun ‘races’, eg a hopping race. Hand out ordinal placings for each race from 1st to 5th.

Mathletics worksheets:

  • Ordinal numbers colouring-in worksheet. Have the students colour in the images according to the instructions. Extension: Have the students colour the rest of the images in each row with other colours. Put the students into pairs so they can ask each other questions about their pages, eg ‘What colour is the 1st elephant?’

Download worksheet

Download other worksheets

Mathletics ordinal numbers wall display:

  • Print the rest of the ordinal numbers wall display (6th to 10th). Compare the counting order to 10 with the ordinal numbers. Read the ordinal numbers together. Ask 10 students to stand in a line. Ask the students to identify who is standing in a particular position (1st to 10th).

Download wall display

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