Understanding the Standard (for Teachers)
• Understanding the cardinal and ordinal meanings of numbers are necessary to quantify, measure, and identify the order of objects.
• An ordinal number is a number that names the place or position of an object in a sequence or set (e.g., first, third). Ordered position, ordinal position, and ordinality are terms that refer to the place or position of an object in a sequence or set.
• The ordinal position is determined by where one starts in an ordered set of objects or sequence of objects.
• The ordinal meaning of numbers is developed by identifying and verbalizing the place or position of objects in a set or sequence (e.g., the student’s position in line when students are lined up alphabetically by first name).
All students should
• Use ordinal numbers to describe the position of objects in a sequence.
The student will use problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, connections, and representations to
•Identify the ordinal positions first through tenth using ordered sets of ten concrete objects and/or pictures of such sets presented from
– left-to-right; – right-to-left; – top-to-bottom; and/or – bottom-to-top.
Teaching the Standard
Books:
10 Little Rubber Ducks. By Eric Carle. Illus. by author. (2005) 36p. HarperCollins (978-0060740757). Gr PreK-1. In this endearing story students are introduced to ordinal numbers, first through tenth. Based on a true story of rubber ducks falling off of a ship, Carle is able to teach this math concept to children while entertaining and delighting them.
Henry the Fourth. By Stuart J. Murphy. Illus by Scott Nash. (1998). 40p. HarperCollins (978-0064467193). Gr K-1. This book introduces students to ordinal numbers using dogs in a dog show. The illustrations are wonderful and children really enjoy this book.
Ordinal Numbers (First Step NonFiction). By Kristin Sterling. (2007) 8p Lerner Classroom (978-0822588467). Gr PreK-1. In this book students are introduced to ordinal numbers and what they represent. Photographs are used in place of illustrations giving a more real world effect on the student.
Lessons/Activities/Center Work
10 Little Rubber Ducks. Scroll down on the page to see how Eric Carle's book 10 Little Rubber Ducks can be used as part of a lesson plan on ordinal numbers. You'll also notice how to use this book in other ways during the school year.
The Ants Go Marching. Using the first lesson provided, use the song "The Ants Go Marching One by One" to ingrain the concept of ordinal numbers. Each time the little ant does something different as the others are marching. Have the students discuss and record what the little ant does the first time, the second time, and so on.
Who's on First. This site gives two sample lesson plans for teaching ordinal numbers. The activities get students up and moving making the lesson more engaging for the younger students.
Electronic Resources:
Ordinal Number Game: Here students are given the task of clicking on vegetables. The only way they will get it right is if they work on their ordinal number vocabulary!
Practice Ordinal Numbers: This game talks to the students, which is especially helpful for your struggling readers, although the voice is a little computer-y. It's surprisingly useful to help reinforce this concept.
Squigly's Apples: In this game, students use their ordinal numbers to tell in which apply Squigly the worm is hiding.
Assessments
10 Little Rubber Ducks Assessment. After teaching from the lesson plan on this page, scroll the rest of the way down to find an assessment to use during your 10 Little Rubber Ducks unit.
Ice Cream Assessment. This worksheet has students color based on ordinal numbers. This tool can be a very helpful assessment/homework assignment.
Ordinal Number Worksheets. Here is a list of worksheets that can be used when assessing student's knowledge of ordinal numbers. There are options for beginner, intermediate and advanced.
• Understanding the cardinal and ordinal meanings of numbers are necessary to quantify, measure, and identify the order of objects.
• An ordinal number is a number that names the place or position of an object in a sequence or set (e.g., first, third). Ordered position, ordinal position, and ordinality are terms that refer to the place or position of an object in a sequence or set.
• The ordinal position is determined by where one starts in an ordered set of objects or sequence of objects.
• The ordinal meaning of numbers is developed by identifying and verbalizing the place or position of objects in a set or sequence (e.g., the student’s position in line when students are lined up alphabetically by first name).
All students should
• Use ordinal numbers to describe the position of objects in a sequence.
The student will use problem solving, mathematical communication, mathematical reasoning, connections, and representations to
•Identify the ordinal positions first through tenth using ordered sets of ten concrete objects and/or pictures of such sets presented from
– left-to-right; – right-to-left; – top-to-bottom; and/or – bottom-to-top.
Teaching the Standard
Books:
10 Little Rubber Ducks. By Eric Carle. Illus. by author. (2005) 36p. HarperCollins (978-0060740757). Gr PreK-1. In this endearing story students are introduced to ordinal numbers, first through tenth. Based on a true story of rubber ducks falling off of a ship, Carle is able to teach this math concept to children while entertaining and delighting them.
Henry the Fourth. By Stuart J. Murphy. Illus by Scott Nash. (1998). 40p. HarperCollins (978-0064467193). Gr K-1. This book introduces students to ordinal numbers using dogs in a dog show. The illustrations are wonderful and children really enjoy this book.
Ordinal Numbers (First Step NonFiction). By Kristin Sterling. (2007) 8p Lerner Classroom (978-0822588467). Gr PreK-1. In this book students are introduced to ordinal numbers and what they represent. Photographs are used in place of illustrations giving a more real world effect on the student.
Lessons/Activities/Center Work
10 Little Rubber Ducks. Scroll down on the page to see how Eric Carle's book 10 Little Rubber Ducks can be used as part of a lesson plan on ordinal numbers. You'll also notice how to use this book in other ways during the school year.
The Ants Go Marching. Using the first lesson provided, use the song "The Ants Go Marching One by One" to ingrain the concept of ordinal numbers. Each time the little ant does something different as the others are marching. Have the students discuss and record what the little ant does the first time, the second time, and so on.
Who's on First. This site gives two sample lesson plans for teaching ordinal numbers. The activities get students up and moving making the lesson more engaging for the younger students.
Electronic Resources:
Ordinal Number Game: Here students are given the task of clicking on vegetables. The only way they will get it right is if they work on their ordinal number vocabulary!
Practice Ordinal Numbers: This game talks to the students, which is especially helpful for your struggling readers, although the voice is a little computer-y. It's surprisingly useful to help reinforce this concept.
Squigly's Apples: In this game, students use their ordinal numbers to tell in which apply Squigly the worm is hiding.
Assessments
10 Little Rubber Ducks Assessment. After teaching from the lesson plan on this page, scroll the rest of the way down to find an assessment to use during your 10 Little Rubber Ducks unit.
Ice Cream Assessment. This worksheet has students color based on ordinal numbers. This tool can be a very helpful assessment/homework assignment.
Ordinal Number Worksheets. Here is a list of worksheets that can be used when assessing student's knowledge of ordinal numbers. There are options for beginner, intermediate and advanced.