Ordering numbers to 50

General

Students learn to set the numbers from 20 to 50 in order and know when a number is more or less than a given number.

Standards

1.NBT.B.3

Introduction

Ask one student to stand in the hallway. Show the rest of the students a number from 20 to 50. Start the game when the student returns from the hallway. The student must guess the number. They try to discover the number by asking: "Is it more than...?" and "Is it less than...?" The class may only answer with yes or no. You may repeat this with another student and number.

Instruction

Show students a number line on the interactive whiteboard and explain that it shows the value of the numbers. The value increases from left to right and numbers on the left are smaller than the numbers on the right. They go from least to most. Set a few numbers on the number line with the class and show how they go from least to most and it is represented by their position on the number line. As a class set a few numbers in order. Tell students that they can use the number line as a tool to set the numbers in the correct order.

Check that students can set numbers to 50 in order by asking the following questions:
- How do you set numbers in the correct order?
- How do you know which number is the least or smallest?
- How do you know which numbers are the most or biggest?
- Which tool can you use to help set numbers in the correct order?

Quiz

Students first practice setting three numbers in order from least to most. Next, they must set four numbers in order, and finally, they practice with five numbers.

Closing

Discuss with students that it is important to be able to set numbers in order so you can figure out who can throw a ball the furthest for example. Check to see that students know that they can use the number line as support and that they know how to set the numbers in order from least to most. Divide the students into groups and give every student a number card from 20 to 50. The groups need to stand in numerical order as quickly as possible.

Teaching tips

Students who have difficulty setting numbers in order can practice using the number line. When the numbers are placed on the number line first, they are automatically set in the correct order. They can also see how one number comes before or after another, indicating that it is less or more.