Having  Fun with Number Lines

  Kay would come home from kindergarten this year eager to show off what she'd learned. I've found her quietly writing on her easel making up math problems and solving them. Sometimes she needs to ask what a "16" looks like, or if a particular problem she's done is correct. 
  
   So I thought - number line! (To be honest, my motive in creating one was at least partially due to laziness; you can only say "16 is a 1 and a 6" so many times. Now I can just say, "Check your number line!")

  After meeting with success on our own, I thought it would be fun to show you some other creative number line ideas that may be fun for your own little mathematicians!

Fantastic Fun and Learning made a number line using clothespins. This one has the added bonus that you can encourage your child to put the numbers in order, too. 

A different clothespins version from Lessons Learnt Journal makes another great hands-on number line (both are good for fine motor skills too, hint, hint!) 

A chalk number line is great for active learners; this one gets them moving AND learning. Coffee Cups and Crayons turned theirs into an active game.

Or, if you can't get outside, make a life-size one indoors, with painter's tape on the floor or a REALLY big piece of paper!

I love the game Mama Jenn made with her number line. Nothing makes learning more fun than a game! 

Use a shoelace or pipe cleaners for this one. I love that you can move the bead for a more visual way to count (Mrs. T's First Grade Class)

An easy one from Tot School uses play dough and craft sticks - great for practice putting the numbers in order! 

Finally, this version is similar to ours, but uses frogs to count. Somehow adding a little toy makes it more playful so I'll go with it!