Number lines are a great tool for helping children develop greater flexibility in mental arithmetic when adding or subtracting.

• review
• share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
• Add to My LearningRemove from My Learning

  Add to My Learning

Please login or signup to access printable content

Number lines are an important learning tool because they present numbers in real life. They help children develop an understanding of numbers – their meaning, relationships to one and another and how we operate with them. Writing numbers on a line makes comparing numbers so much easier and is great for adding multiple numbers together. 

For this activity:

1. Use a printed number line (see attachment), a whiteboard and number cards/plastic numbers to set up this activity. If you can laminate the number line, it can be written on using whiteboard markers. Otherwise, tape it to the whiteboard and make the jump lines on the whiteboard itself, just above the number line. 
2. Start by writing down a simple, two number addition sentence (e.g. 5 + 8 =). Find the first number on the number line and circle it. Next, jump the number that is being added.
3. Write the answer on the board.
4. If your child is confident with adding two numbers, progress to adding a third number. Make sure to stop after the second number, circling the answer. Then continue to jump to the third number. 
5. Extra challenge: Can they add four numbers together?