Children enjoy learning numbers and counting because they can use these skills in daily life. But if you ask a lower primary child to tell you a number out of the sequence using English they often begin from one and count using their fingers until they get to the number they need. Or they may recite all the numbers they know… but skip numbers that are difficult to say in English, like 18 or 37!
Knowing how to count in English is useful in real life. We need how to count money or measure distances. Your children can use these English skills in real life, and this keep them motivated to learn more English.
If you feel your children would be more motivated by face-to-face English classes, you can consider English classes for children at the British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.sg/english-courses/kids-teens/lower-primary
Describing different types of numbers in English
When you teach your child numbers in English, do remember the same number can be expressed differently, depending on their use.
For example, numbers for dates are often expressed as ordinal numbers. For example ‘The party will be on the 12th of January’. We also use ordinals to talk about pole positions, for example: First place in the Football Premier League.
If you want to use a personal context to explain this, try using the floors of your apartment block.
For example:
Ordinal number: We live on the third floor of this apartment building.
Ordinal number: "Liverpool are third in the football league.
Ordinal number: Ji came first in the race.
And if you are measuring distances or measuring amounts in English, you may express a number using fractions or decimals.
For example:
Fractions: ‘We ate ½ of the cake’
Decimals: ‘The milk bottle holds 1.5 litres, so we need to buy another one to have enough milk for the week."
Decimals: "The park is 2.5 kilometres away, so it will take us about 30 minutes to walk there."
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Cardinal numbers in English |
Ordinal numbers in English |
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1 One |
1st First |
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2 Two |
2nd Second |
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3 Three |
3rd Third |
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4 Four |
4th Fourth |
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5 Five |
5th Fifth |
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6 Six |
6th Sixth |
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7 Seven |
7th Seventh |
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8 Eight |
8th Eighth |
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9 Nine |
9th Ninth |
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10 Ten |
10th Tenth |
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11 Eleven |
11th Eleventh |
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12 Twelve |
12th Twelfth |
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13 Thirteen |
13th Thirteenth |
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14 Fourteen |
14th Fourteenth |
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15 Fifteen |
15th Fifteenth |
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16 Sixteen |
16th Sixteenth |
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17 Seventeen |
17th Seventeenth |
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18 Eighteen |
18th Eighteenth |
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19 Nineteen |
19th Nineteenth |
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20 Twenty |
20th Twentieth |
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21 Twenty-one |
21st Twenty-first |
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30 Thirty |
30th Thirtieth |
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40 Forty |
40th Fortieth |
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50 Fifty |
50th Fiftieth |
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60 Sixty |
60th Sixtieth |
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70 Seventy |
70th Seventieth |
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80 Eighty |
80th Eightieth |
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90 Ninety |
90th Ninetieth |
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100 One hundred |
100th One hundredth |
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1,000 One thousand |
1,000th One thousandth |
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Fractions in English |
Decimals in English |
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¼ or Quarter |
2.5 or Two point five |
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½ or Half |
0.1 or Zero point one |
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¾ or Three quarters |
1.005 or One point zero, zero, five |
Let’s get measuring
When I teach English class, I notice children love to measure things with tape measures. So let’s use tape measures to help them practice numbers they’ve learned at school – but OUT of sequence!
It’s always a good idea to review the numbers in English before you start using them in your activity. You can practice with free activities from the LearnEnglish kids website page from the British Council
What you need: A tape measure kids can use without breaking a finger. Avoid metal measuring tapes that automatically reel back in. It’s better to use a soft cloth or paper measuring tape.
In English classes at the British Council we often start by measuring the child’s height. They usually know it already, so this gives them confidence to say their height out loud in English. If they are not confident counting in centimetres, you can measure in meters and centimetres. For older primary learners, ask them to tell you their height in centimetres.
To encourage children to remember numbers, ask them to record their height on a chart. Then ask them to measure the size of their heads, arms, hands, noses, and so on. They can write all the numbers into their own personal chart. Children enjoy using a tape measure, so they will probably be happy to measure the whole family like this. Remember to ask them to say the numbers out loud as they measure!
But what about those confusing ‘-teen’ numbers in English? Pronouncing the words and numbers 13 to 19 in English can be a real pain. It can also be hard to hear the difference between numbers that end in -teen and numbers that end in -ty when someone in speaking in English. For example, it’s easy to mix up 13 (thirteen) versus 30 (thirty). So how do you help your child understand?
Emphasise that -teen numbers from 13 to 19 have a long vowel /i:/ 14 or fourteen’ like in ‘cheese’. The other ‘-ty’ numbers 20 or twenty, 30 or thirty, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 have a short vowel /i/ so we don’t need to show our toothy smile when we pronounce them.
Try this listening activity from LearnEnglish teens to help your child understand how to hear these numbers correctly when they are listening to English.
How to count money, money, money in English!
Younger kids love playing shopping games. You can easily set up shop in your kitchen. Ask your child to write prices for the items in the shop on pieces of paper and set out a stack of play money.
Pretend shopping is an excellent way to practice saying numbers in a very real context. They can practice English phrases like ‘How much is…?’ and ‘I want to buy…’ Pretend shopping also lets them practice counting in English and do maths problems. For example, your child can calculate how much they have spent, what change to give and how much money they have left. You can get your child in the mood for counting in English by showing them a song or counting game from the free Learn English kids website.
For older primary-age school children you can help them organise their savings box,and count how much money they have saved. Or ask them to keep a weekly budget of their spending on sweets, drinks or comics.
World Records Geography Quiz
Children are fascinated with world records. To help them practise longer numbers, try a World Records geography quiz. Challenge them to find the longest street in the country – ask them to tell you how long it is, in English. Or find the highest mountain or the widest river. The list of measurable world records is endless; from the tallest man in the world to the oldest woman to the most populated city.
If you are looking for interesting world records your kids will love to see, see this website. The videos will amaze your kids with huge numbers.
You can even get started with your own personal Family World Records. Ask your child to list the longest journey you’ve made in kilometres. Or get them to list the most laps they’ve swum or count the snails in the garden… they can count or measure whatever interests them.
So what are you waiting for, let’s get counting!