Ordinal Numbers

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 4
Homework Page ▶ pages 5
Activity Page ▶ pages 6 - 7
Grade Level: K - 2 Answer Key ▶ page 8
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: K - 2

1. Display the number “1”, “2”, and “3” along with “1st”, “2nd”, 3rd for all Objectives:
students to see.
The students will be able to identify, use,
2. Ask students what the difference is between the numbers alone and and write the words for ordinal numbers.
the numbers with the letters.
3. Allow time for responses and discussion. Common Core State Standards:
4. Introduce the terms: Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers CCSS.Math.Practice.MP2
5. Distribute the Ordinal Numbers content page. Have students read Class Sessions (45 minutes):
aloud in class. Stop during the reading to check on the students’
understanding of the concept. Use more examples if necessary. At least two class sessions.
6. Stress the word “order” is like ordinal to help them remember its Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
meaning. Also, stress the -TH at the end of most ordinal numbers,
but also point out the exceptions. Ordinal Numbers content page, Ordinal
7. Read and discuss students’ responses to the question: Can you Number Chart, Activity page(s), Homework
think of other ways people use ordinal numbers? page
8. Distribute the Ordinal Number Chart”. Choose volunteers to read Student Supplies:
each one aloud, and then read aloud as a class, both the numbers
and words in order. scissors, tape/glue
9. Distribute the activity pages (ordinal numbers to ½ of the class, Prepare Ahead of Time:
number words to the other ½ of the class)
10. Read over the instructions with the students, have them cut out the Gather enough glue/tape and scissors for
numbers/words. students, display for showing numbers
for Step #1, a list of items/locations in the
11. Once completed allow them to pair up with another student with
classroom to be used for Step #13, make
the words/numbers. If uneven, teacher can be someone’s partner.
copies of pages needed.
12. Give the students time to match the numbers/words, gluing the
pieces back to back. Options for Lesson:
13. Once all are complete, call on volunteers to show the class something Distribute both ordinal numbers/words to
that is: “First in the room, Second in the room, etc., all the way up
same student to piece together, working
to twelfth.”
alone. Use extra content from resources
14. With more than 24 students, some ordinal numbers may need to for more ordinal number practice. Allow
be repeated. student pairs to label objects on their
15. Distribute extra Activity Pages so all students can have a set of ordinal own without teacher instructions. Have
numbers/words glued together. The partners will work together to students do homework page in class. Use
complete a second set of numbers/words glued together. ordinal numbers as a springboard to a
16. Once completed, review the ordinal numbers on the chart and writing lesson; have students write a short
distribute the homework. story using some of the ordinal numbers.
17. Review the homework the next day. (Use additional worksheets
from resources for more practice.)

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 Teacher Notes
Most students in first grade will have heard of, and most likely used, ordinal numbers and may just need
assistance with the spelling, connecting the word with the actual number. This lesson can be adapted to
your grade-level needs. Most students should know ordinal numbers by the time they finish second grade if
not sooner. There is a vast amount of resources on the Internet for worksheets related to ordinal numbers.
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Additional Resources:
http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/ordinal-number.html (1 min. video – incl. cardinal/nominal, interactive
quiz)
http://www.aaamath.com/nam15-ordinals.html (Content and more)
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1/ordinal-numbers (Interactive)
http://www.kidslearningstation.com/numbers/ordinal-numbers-worksheets.asp (Worksheets)
http://www.mathworksheetsland.com/topics/integers/ordinalnumbsset.html (Worksheets)

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Ordinal Numbers
When you hear or see the word “number”, you are probably thinking about 1, 2, 3, 4… and many other
numbers that you see every day. However, there are different kinds of numbers. The three kinds of numbers
are cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, and nominal numbers.

Nominal numbers are used to name things or

The cardinal numbers are the easiest because to identify something or someone. For example,
they are the numbers you use when counting like the number on a football player’s shirt is a nominal
this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and so on. number (7). The zip code or street address is also
a nominal number (15).

The numbers you are learning today are called the ordinal numbers. Ordinal numbers tell you what
order things are in. Notice the word order has the first three letters of the word ordinal. This will help you
remember the word ordinal means to tell the order of something. Examples of ordinal numbers are those
used in races, a place in line, birthdays, and many others.Look at the pictures below. The person circled in
yellow is the 5th (or fifth) person in line. In the second picture, the person standing in the middle won 1st (or
first) place. Finally, the cake will be used to celebrate a 3rd (or third) birthday.

The cardinal numbers used most frequently are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th
Any number can be turned into an ordinal number. Sometimes a store will have a celebration
when the one-thousandth customer buys something. On a calendar, when you see the
number 15, it tells you it’s the 15th day of the month.
When you spell the word for each ordinal number it will usually, but not always, end in the
letters -TH.

Can you think of other ways people use

ordinal numbers?

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 ORDINAL NUMBER CHART

Ordinal Number Reading the Ordinal Number

1st first
2nd second
3rd third
4th fourth
5th fifth
6th sixth
7th seventh
8th eighth
9th nineth
10th tenth
11th eleventh
12th twelth
13th thirteenth
14th fourteeth
15th fifteenth
16th sixteenth
17th seventeenth
18th eighteenth
19th nineteenth
20th twentieth
21st twenty-first
22nd twenty-second
23rd twenty-third
24th twenty-fourth
25th twenty-fifth
100th one-hundredth
1,000th one-thousandth

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Use ordinal numbers to answer each question

1. Sunday is the ____________________day of the week.
2. My birthday is on the ______________ day of the month.
3. In the car race below, what color is the car in fourth place? _____________

4. In the car race above, what color is the car in second place? ____________
5. My next birthday will be my ____________________ birthday.
6. Spell the word for the order of the yellow dot: _____________________

7. Spell the word for the order of the green dot: ______________________
8. Spell the word for the order of the red dot: ________________________
9. Circle the ordinal number: 23 Main Street 3rd Place 9
10. Fill in the blank with the correct ordinal number or word: (Be careful, they are not in order.)
1st 2nd
8th ninth
fourth 7th
10th fifth
sixth third

Bonus Questions: What are the numbers called you use for counting? ______________
Use the picture to help you remember.
Today is the ____________________ day of the month.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

1. Cut apart the ordinal numbers.

2. Find a partner with the ordinal numbers written in words.
3. With your partner, use a piece of tape or glue to join the ordinal number and the word together
back to back.
4. Next, follow the teacher’s directions.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

1. Cut apart the ordinal number words.

2. Find a partner with the ordinal numbers.
3. With your partner, use a piece of tape or glue to join the ordinal number and the word together
back to back.
4. Next, follow the teacher’s directions.

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Use ordinal numbers to answer each question

1. Sunday is the __first or 1st____day of the week.
2. My birthday is on the ___varies___ day of the month.
3. In the car race below, what color is the car in fourth place? ___red__

4. In the car race above, what color is the car in second place? ___purple__
5. My next birthday will be my ______varies______ birthday.
6. Spell the word for the order of the yellow dot: ______fifth___

7. Spell the word for the order of the green dot: ______fourteenth____
8. Spell the word for the order of the red dot: ______eleventh________
9. Circle the ordinal number: 23 Main Street 3rd Place 9
10. Fill in the blank with the correct ordinal number or word: (Be careful, they are not in order.)
1st first 2nd second
8th eighth 9th ninth
4th fourth 7th seventh
10th tenth 5th fifth
6th sixth 3rd third

Bonus Questions: What are the numbers called you use for counting? __Cardinal___ Use the
picture to help you remember.
Today is the _____varies______ day of the month.