Number Line
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Video Summary
ThinkBlocks transform abstract ideas into vivid, tangible objects.
Where traditional wooden blocks allow your child to get familiar with
counting numbers, the unique design of ThinkBlocks allows your child to
learn deep counting and ordering skills that form the basis of a
lifetime of mathematical ideas.
In this activity we will
transform the mathematical abstractions of the number line into
hands-on exercises that help your child understand number and order.
Also see: Multiplying, Dividing and Factoring Units
Video transcript: In this activity we will transform the mathematical abstractions of the number line into hands-on exercises that help your child understand number and order. Where traditional wooden blocks allow your child to get familiar with counting numbers, the unique design of ThinkBlocks allows your child to learn deep counting and ordering skills that form the basis of a lifetime of mathematical ideas. Place several MTB and STB in your playspace. Take one STB and ask “how many blocks?” Place the STB inside a MTB and label it “1.” Place another MTB to the right of “1” labeled with a “<” sign. Ask “what’s the next biggest thing after 1?” They should respond “2.” Take another MTB, and place two STB inside as they count “one…two.”
Explain that when getting the next number, they added a unit of one. Label the MTB “2” and place it in line to the right of “<” Now ask “what does ‘<’ mean?” They should say “less than.” Ask them to read the blocks in each direction. They should say “one is less than two” and “two is greater than one.” Place another MTB labeled “<” to the right of “2.” Now ask “what comes after ‘2’?” Repeat the exercise above for bigger numbers, until they feel comfortable with ordering numbers. Now ask “so when do I stop?” Discuss how this process can always make a bigger number, so there are infinitely many numbers. Once they have the hang of positive numbers, try asking “What’s less that 1? How about less than 0?” Discuss with them what the ideas of “0” and negative numbers could mean, illustrating with groups of TB. You can use this activity to explore the relationships between large numbers, negative numbers or any numbers you like. This allows your child to build up the number line and ordering relationships with their hands, helping them grasp the realness of these abstract concepts.