Games for children in English for learning numbers and numbers

Thumb up! Thumb down!

You can start oral counting in English in order. Tell the children the rules of the game. If you show your thumb up, then they count from 1 to 12. If the thumb is down, then in reverse order. It will become more interesting if, after the children get used to it, you begin to speed up the pace of the game, in this way developing the reaction and speed of the children.

Songs and videos

Such recreational activities are suitable for the smallest students. Start with simple animated cartoons that show colorful numbers in English. Repeat them in chorus with the class.

Interesting songs with dance moves can be found on this YouTube channel. Feel free to stop the songs and ask the guys again what number the hero has just called.

Videos with a small variety of vocabulary, but simple sentences. After listening, invite the class to sound the song. Turn the sound off and help them if they forget words or numbers.

Matching

It is important that children distinguish numerals not only by ear, but also visually. After all, over time they will have to write them. This activity is used by English teachers in any topic. It is important to see the correspondence between the name and the meaning, or, as in our case, numbers and words. You will need 2 columns, the first is numbers and the second is the numbers in words. Children need to find the same and match the cards. If the lesson is online, let them draw colorful connecting lines.

Choose a card

A game for children that will help to consolidate the studied material or test knowledge on the desired topic. You will need cards with a different number of items on each. If you have completed the theme of animals, then 2 cats, 3 dogs, 4 fish may appear on the cards. Variations can be anything, it is important to use all the numbers, depending on the range that you are going through. The child chooses a card without seeing what is drawn on it. There are 3 fish. So he needs to count from 1 to 3 in English and say the word fish.

phone number

A number memory game that requires attention. The teacher dictates his phone number to the class in English, the task of the children is to write it in numbers, whoever can do it faster goes to dictate next. Also, this task is very popular with adult students, especially if you find voice acting from native speakers on the Internet.

Energizing numbers

There comes a time in every class when you need to shake things up. Help the children to stretch by training their memory and attentiveness. For numbers from 1 to 12, come up with different movements, for example: 1 - close your eyes with your palms, 2 - stroke your head, 3 - clap your hands, and the like. You can make a small poster with numbers and these symbols, and then say the numbers out loud, but out of order. Having heard, the guys should quickly figure out what movement they need to perform. The students will enjoy the little confusion at the beginning and the excitement of being the fastest.

Count and clap

Divide the children into turns or sit in a circle to count from 1 to 12. The first child starts with one and the next child instead of calling two clap their hands 2 times. Thus, they alternately call the numbers and clap, watching which one has already sounded. This activity is suitable for any range of numbers.

What is missing?

A task for attention and memory training. We lay out the cards with numbers in order. We give the children a little time to memorize the numbers, and then open the cards in a different order, removing one number. The task of the children is to say what is missing. For added fun, ask the children to close their eyes before removing one of the numbers.

Forbidden number

Do not forget to dilute oral tasks about numbers with active exercises where children can have fun. Put the children in a circle and roll the dice. A forbidden number will fall out that cannot be pronounced in English. Instead, you need to perform a pre-invented action. For example, such a number is 4. Children will begin to count in turn: one, two, three. And the next child must perform an action, for example, sit down. Such a game will cause a storm of emotions and delight, if you speed up the pace a little.

7UP

An English game for toddlers who are learning to count up to 7. The teacher starts the game by pointing at a random child. He should start counting. Next is his turn, now he chooses a candidate and points to him so that he continues to count. Funny situations begin when children deliberately confuse each other. For example, pointing a finger at one classmate, and nodding his head towards another. This perfectly develops the reaction, because the game is a knockout game and you need to think faster.

Buzz

A game for children over 9 years old, as there are several math puzzles to come. Team members sit in a circle, counting to 100 in turn. The bottom line is that the number 7, as well as all numbers in which there is a seven (17, 27 and others), as well as all that are divisible by 7 (14, 21, etc.) must be replaced with the word buzz. You can set the rhythm of the game by tapping it with a pencil. In case of an error, the participant is eliminated, and the rest start over. Check how many times your students can count to 100 without errors.

Poetry 

Rhyme has an amazing effect on our memory. Therefore, poems about numbers will be so easy for children to remember.  

Poem #1

One - I play with a ball.
Two - I have a small doll.
Three - I sit on the tree.
Four - I stay on the floor.
Five - I want to fly!

Poem #2

One, one, one, little dog run
Two, two, two, cats see you
Three, three, three, birds in the tree
Four, four, four, mice on the floor
Five, five, five, plane in the sky
Six, six, six, very short sticks
Seven, seven, seven, here is a raven
Eight, eight, eight, an apple on the plate
Nine, nine, nine, the chicken is fine
Ten, ten, ten, little black pen.

Conclusion

Oral counting in English is important for building a further base and initial acquaintance with a new language. When teaching children, it is important to refresh the standard lessons using different techniques. An experienced teacher knows when it is better to use this or that activity. But if you do not yet have rich experience in teaching children, or just want to improve your professional skills, then the TEFL / TESOL course will be able to raise your level of pedagogical knowledge. Follow the link to get an international certificate and take the course with a 50% discount. We will be glad to know your opinion about games in English for children in the comments.