Top Drawer Teachers

Number lines and repeating patterns

The following activities can help students understand the number line better.

  • Link the number line to skip counting.

    • When counting repeating patterns, represent the numbers on a number track.
      The equal spacing on the number track helps students to skip count (in this case, by threes).A line of twenty squares filled with the numbers one to twenty. Every third square is coloured green.

    • Then move on to a number line (note the addition of zero at the beginning).A number line from zero to twenty, with every number labelled and with a dot on the mark for zero and then every third mark.

    • Gradually remove some of the labels, leaving numbers spaced by two, five or ten. In the following example, the numbers are spaced by two.A number line from zero to twenty, with multiples of two labelled and with a dot on the mark for zero and then every third mark.

    • Later, remove the intermediate marks as well.

 

 

  • Plot timelines.

    • Plot the Olympic years on a timeline marked at one-year intervals but numbered every five years.

    • Plot recent significant events on a timeline marked and numbered at two-year intervals.

    • Plot significant daily events (from waking to sleeping) on a 24-hour timeline.