Teaching number lines to students in a way that they can both visually and physically represent them will be important for the entirety of their use of math. Teaching students at a young age to think mathematically will foster a variety of personality traits that will be followed by students throughout their math journey. A strong foundation of understanding and visualizing numbers can easily be taught. Our experts have come up with 25 unique, engaging, and overall fun activities that your students will love!
1. Hop Along the Bunny Line
Whether it’s Easter or you’ve been reading a Rabbit book like this one, your students will love creating this number line. Bringing hands-on activities into your math stations will not only keep students engaged, but will also help keep the teacher table focused and undistracted.
Learn More: Powell in Primary
2. Guess My Number
This can definitely be purchased but can also easily be made by a crafty elementary math teacher. Whether you’re planning to use it as a math center rotation or as a fun math competition, students will be totally engaged with this super fun activity.
Learn More: Mrs. Albanese’s Class
3. Outside Number Line Fun
This low prep resource is perfect for those days that students are just a little stir crazy inside the classroom. This engaging activity can honestly be used with a variety of classes, just draw different number lines using sidewalk chalk.
Learn More: Math With Ms. Matherson
4. Tape Me Up – Number Line for Visual Kinesthetic Learners
Sometimes teaching challenging math concepts to visual kinesthetic learners can be very difficult. Making math tech connections can sometimes cause issues for this special group of kiddos. Come out of the tech world for a bit and use this simple math number line in your classroom!
Learn More: FPCS Armstrong
5. Simplify Math Digital Resource
Digital activities can enhance student learning in a variety of ways. Working at math centers using chrome books, or during distance learning. These math number lines are a great addition to any learning strategy.
Learn More: Simplifying School
6. Stick My Number
A perfect activity for toddlers and older kids alike, this interactive activity will build math skills in even our youngest learners while also being fun and engaging. An ideal resource for those mamas looking for a simple idea that can spark love and understanding of math.
Learn More: Ms. Badial Teaches
7. Read Aloud and Count
Bringing literacy across the curriculum will provide students with a different range of strategies that they’ll need throughout life. Reading a book like Veggies with Wedgies will be both engaging for students and a great resource for number line math lessons. Count the veggies you see in the story and tape them to the number line!
Learn More: Math Art Ma
8. Number Line in Nature
If your kids are just starting to count or they’re already using 2-digit numbers, this is a great activity for them. Used with both homeschool preschool and school-aged children, this is a great visual representation that will get your students outdoors and crafty!
Learn More: Skips Preschool
9. Make It A Match
Finding different ways to engage our soccer-loving kids can be a bit difficult. Using different number lines on soccer fields can be a great visual for your students. Add this to your collection of activities while teaching number lines to higher-grade students.
Learn More: Genius Teachers
10. Subtracting
Subtracting can be a difficult concept for many students. With this number line activity, not only will your students have an easier time grasping the idea, but teachers will also have an easier time assessing student understanding. Using hands-on subtraction activities in the classroom can seriously help students in the long run.
Learn More: Mrs. Mactivity
11. Ocean Themed Number Line
Visual tools along with hands-on activities have been proven to help students understand different math concepts. This super cute ocean-themed activity is not only easy to make but also super exciting for students to use. Also enhancing motor skills by using the craft sticks.
Learn More: Stephanie Trapp
12. Understanding Fractions – Christmas Style
Give students a better understanding of fractions this year, with this engaging and themed fraction number line. Although this might be a bit more prep for teachers, providing daily activities to engrain fraction strategies into students’ brains will not disappoint.
Learn More: Math in Demand
13. Paper Strip Number Line
Lead students in an activity to make a number line out of a sheet of paper. Teaching tools like this are extremely simple to teach but will help students to create their own number lines in an emergency or at home. It’s also an engaging hands-on activity that students will love.
Learn More: ICEVI Math Made Easy
14. Recognizing Numbers
Fun math games that teach students to recognize different numbers on a number line are a dime a dozen, but this one is great for the teacher too! Assess and understand where students are thriving and where they’re being challenged in their comprehension.
Learn More: Kids Jump
15. Teaching Fractions On A Number Line
Finding helpful resources to teach and engrain fractions into your student’s brains can be a daunting task. This is a great scaffold for math centers and teaching students who are quite grasping the content. An intricate math tool that will strongly benefit your students.
Learn More: Living With Lina
16. Digital Fraction Number Line
During a time of distance learning and classroom technology constantly changing and climbing, having a few different resource types throughout your lessons is super important for teachers. Using digital fraction activities not only gives students extra manipulative but also some technology use!
Learn More: Easy Teaching
17. Dice and Butterflies
Finding fun games to bring into your math center rotation is never easy. This activity can easily be used at home and in the classroom. Your students will love being active learners by rolling the dice and marking the number on the number line.
Learn More: Fun Learning for Kids
18. Human Number Line
Making a human number line in the classroom can be a super fun and engaging math game. Whether you draw numbers on paper or have students wear them on their shirts, it can be super exciting to make human math games!
Learn More: Peppy Zesty Teacherista
19. Puzzle Number Lines
These fun puzzle pieces are a perfect addition to your next adding or subtracting number line lesson. Whether it be math stations or whole-group activities, these number lines are a great way to have students focus on their independent practice.
Learn More: Elementary Nest
20. Gobble into Numbers
This wonderful Thanksgiving activity will be a great way to enhance students learning and understanding of the number line. Throwing the dice never fails for our littlest learners. Don’t let this game get away, it’s easy to make and super cute to play!
Learn More: One Sharp Bunch
21. Pipe Cleaner Number Line
Using a pipe cleaner and a hand full of beads is always a good time in the classroom. This easy pipe cleaner activity can be used as both a math lesson and a great skills motor math game. You will be shocked at your student’s patience during this activity.
Learn More: More Time to Teach
22. Dominos Number Building
Counting with dominos is a fun math game that can be used throughout math centers, at home, or as a whole class activity. Having students work collaboratively on this will be even more beneficial for their learning outcomes.
Learn More: Busy Toddler
23. PlayDough and Flowers
Being a bit more of an intense prep of a number line activity, this is perfect for a rainy day or a day that you have a big math block. Students will not only love to show off their creations but they’ll also have a blast making them! It’s a perfect informal project-based assessment activity.
Learn More: Learning 4 Kids
24. Lego Man Counting
Have students bring in their favorite action figures or Lego men for this fun math activity. Students will love to be able to bring their friends from home into the classroom and use them in a math lesson!
Learn More: Play Ideas
25. Friday Game Day
I love to have one of my math stations a game on Fridays. My students loved this number line game! It was easy to get to and easy to understand. I also love hearing my kiddos when they do well and when they do not do so well.
Learn More: Gizmos
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