- Define and explain Ordering Numbers in your own words
- Use key terms such as Digit accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Ordering Numbers: place numbers in order from smallest to largest and back.
Definition: Ordering Numbers
Place numbers in order from smallest to largest and back.
Key ideas
Number order
Numbers grow by one each step, so a number further along in the count is always larger: 9 comes after 7 and is bigger.
One-to-one counting
Touch or point to each object once and say one number name each time. That way no object is missed and none is counted twice.
Key term — Digit: Any of the symbols 0 to 9 used to write numbers. The number 42 uses two digits.
Worked example: Ordering Numbers
Write the numbers 8, 3, 11, 5 from smallest to largest.
3, 5, 8, 11.
Answer: 3, 5, 8, 11.
Common mistakes
- Saying number names out of order Practise the sequence aloud until it is automatic, like the words of a song.
- Counting an object twice Point to each object once as you count it, moving counted objects aside if it helps.
Practice
A packet has 31 biscuits. You eat 1. How many are left?
Count back one step.
30 — counting back one from 31 gives 30.
Count back in tens from 70 to 30.
Take away one ten at a time.
70, 60, 50, 40, 30.
What number comes just before 40?
Count backwards from 40.
Count from 14 to 20.
Say each number one after another.
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Quick check
Ordering Numbers — quick check
Which of these best defines "Digit"?
Any of the symbols 0 to 9 used to write numbers. The number 42 uses two digits.
Which is more: 25 or 29?
29, because 29 comes after 25 when counting.
Key takeaways
- Ordering Numbers: place numbers in order from smallest to largest and back.
- Number order: Numbers grow by one each step, so a number further along in the count is always larger: 9 comes after 7 and is bigger.
- Number: A word or symbol that tells you how many there are, such as 7.
- Watch out for: saying number names out of order