String-Along Numbers

String-Along Numbers lesson plan

This cards-on-a-clothesline activity is a low-tech, high-touch activity for math beginners. Who’s ready to count and crunch some numbers?

  • 1.

    What do numbers do? They tell you how many. If you count in order, each number is one more than the one before it. Each number is also one less than the next number. When you write down the numerals and draw some pictures on cards, you get to know better how numbers work.

  • 2.

    How high can you count? Count out that many large index cards. You may want to start with 20 or fewer cards, then add more later. Write one numeral on each index card with Crayola® Gel Markers. Ask for help if you need it.

  • 3.

    On each card, draw the number of objects the numeral stands for. You might make one circle, two triangles, and three squares, and so on. Remember zero stands for no objects, which is a good place to start counting.

  • 4.

    Tape a long yarn or laundry line to a wall, white board, or another safe place. With clothespins or other clips, attach the cards to the line in counting order. Count along your number line.

  • 5.

    Now rearrange the numbers from highest to lowest. Or pick out even numbers, or odd numbers, and put them in order. Count by twos. Count forward and backward. How many other ways can you find to arrange your String-Along Numbers?

Benefits

  • Students write numerals on index cards.
  • Students illustrate the value of each numeral.
  • Students line up their cards in numerical order and count in ascending and descending order.
  • Students use their cards to create other math challenges for themselves.

Adaptations

  • Make cards with math symbols, such as greater than, less than, equal, plus, and minus. Use the line to solve simple problems.
  • Older students can learn about cultures that have no special number words. For example, the Vedda of Sri Lanka used words such as a single, a couple, another one, and many instead of using numbers. How would you use those words to count without numbers?
  • Learn about counting systems where different parts of the body stand for different numbers.