ORDINAL NUMBERS

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

K-2
Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 4
Homework Page ▶ page 5
Activity Page ▶ pages 6 – 7
GRADE Answer Key ▶ page 8
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: K - 2
Objectives: The students will be able to
1. Display the number “1”, “2”, and “3” along with “1st”, “2nd”, 3rd for identify, use, and write the words for ordinal
all students to see. numbers.
2. Ask students what the difference is between the numbers alone State Educational Standards*
and the numbers with the letters. LB.Math.Practice.MP2
3. Allow time for responses and discussion. Class Sessions (45 minutes):
4. Introduce the terms: Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers At least two class sessions.
5. Distribute the Ordinal Numbers content page. Have students Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
read aloud in class. Stop during the reading to check on the Ordinal Numbers content page, Ordinal Number
students’ understanding of the concept. Use more examples Chart, Activity page(s), Homework page
if necessary. Student Supplies: scissors, tape/glue
6. Stress the word “order” is like ordinal to help them remember Prepare Ahead of Time: Gather enough glue/
its meaning. Also, stress the -TH at the end of most ordinal tape and scissors for students, display for
numbers, but also point out the exceptions. showing numbers for Step #1, a list of items/
locations in the classroom to be used for Step
7. Read and discuss students’ responses to the question: Can
#13, make copies of pages needed.
you think of other ways people use ordinal numbers?
Options for Lesson: Distribute both ordinal
8. Distribute the Ordinal Number Chart”. Choose volunteers to
numbers/words to same student to piece
read each one aloud, and then read aloud as a class, both the together, working alone. Use extra content
numbers and words in order. from resources for more ordinal number practice.
9. Distribute the activity pages (ordinal numbers to ½ of the class, Allow student pairs to label objects on their own
without teacher instructions. Have students do
number words to the other ½ of the class)
homework page in class. Use ordinal numbers
10. Read over the instructions with the students, have them cut out as a springboard to a writing lesson; have
the numbers/words. students write a short story using some of the
ordinal numbers.
11. Once completed allow them to pair up with another student
with the words/numbers. If uneven, teacher can be someone’s *Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
partner. your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.

12. Give the students time to match the numbers/words, gluing the
pieces back to back.
13. Once all are complete, call on volunteers to show the class something that is: “First in the room, Second in the
room, etc., all the way up to twelfth.”
14. With more than 24 students, some ordinal numbers may need to be repeated.
15. Distribute extra Activity Pages so all students can have a set of ordinal numbers/words glued together. The partners
will work together to complete a second set of numbers/words glued together.
16. Once completed, review the ordinal numbers on the chart and distribute the homework.
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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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?

3
 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 Date _________
Name __________________________

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? ___blue__
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.