Teaching Teen Numbers to Little Learners can be a challenge! But don’t worry—if you add some fun hands-on activities, they’ll be learning tricky teens quickly and easily.
Teaching your kindergarten students about teen numbers through fun, hands-on activities can make learning both engaging and purposeful. (Check out post Teaching Teen Numbers To Little Learners for more ideas and activities.)
Number Cards and Manipulatives
Start by introducing the concept of teen numbers with colorful number cards that your little learners can hold and explore. These vibrant cards can spark curiosity and excitement. Use physical objects like counting blocks, beads, or even small toys to visually represent these numbers, allowing your students to build and count them out loud. This tactile approach helps solidify their understanding of the numbers. (Teen Numbers BUNDLE includes number cards, punch cards, and anchor chart pieces.)
Games
Incorporate interactive games such as “Number Bingo,” where your students can match teen numbers that are called out to the numbers on their bingo cards. This game not only reinforces number recognition but also encourages listening skills and quick thinking. Another engaging activity is a “Number Line Jump,” where your kindergartners physically hop along a number line laid out on the floor (butcher paper is perfect for this low budget activity), counting aloud as they land on each number. This movement-based activity promotes kinesthetic learning and keeps your students active and engaged.
Caterpillar Crafts
Arts and crafts activities can also reinforce the concept. Have your students create “teen number caterpillars” by linking paper circles together, each marked with a number. This visual representation helps them grasp the sequence of teen numbers while also allowing for creativity. They can then decorate their caterpillars with stickers, drawings, or even glitter, making the process both educational and artistic.
Storytelling
Finally, storytelling can be a powerful tool in making numbers relatable. Create a narrative around a character who goes on an adventure, encountering teen numbers as they solve problems or discover treasures. For instance, the character could meet a friendly monster who loves counting, or embark on a quest to find ten hidden treasures, each representing a teen number. This approach captivates their imagination and contextualizes numbers in a way that feels relevant and fun.
By using a variety of hands-on activities—games, crafts, worksheets and storytelling—your kindergartners can develop a solid understanding of teen numbers while enjoying the learning process. This multifaceted approach not only enhances their mathematical skills but also fosters a love for learning that can last a lifetime.
