Learn about ordinal numbers and how to use them
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To understand ordinal numbers and how to use them. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5-2 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students understand when to use ordinal numbers in English, e.g., in dates or in some addresses. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students understand the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers. Students learn ordinal numbers from first to twentieth. Students learn both digital and spelled-out forms of ordinal numbers (e.g., 1st, first). Students will learn some times to use ordinal numbers. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn about ordinal numbers and how to use them
- What is a number?
- What is an ordinal number? Can you give us some examples?
- What is a cardinal number? Can you give us some examples?
- When do you use ordinal numbers?
Learning ordinal numbers
- Part 1: First to tenth:
- Put the ordinal numbers in order*
- Position the ordinal numbers* (Match the ordinal numbers and words.)
- Make sets* (Make sets with the two forms of ordinal numbers.)
- Part 2: Eleventh to twentieth:
- Put the ordinal numbers in order*
- Position the ordinal numbers* (Match the ordinal numbers and words.)
- Make sets* (Make sets with the two forms of ordinal numbers.)
- Let’s review the ordinal numbers* 🔊 (Listen to the numbers and pay attention to the order, pronunciation, and spelling of each one. Put them into the correct order.)
When do we use ordinal numbers?
FEATURED CONTENT
- Ordinal numbers: Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Ask students to pay attention to the pronunciation, spelling, and meaning of the words.)
- When do we use ordinal numbers?* 🔊
- Understanding ordinal numbers* 🎥 (This is an expanded version of the activity above. Slow the video down as needed for your students.)
- How do we write ordinal numbers?* (When do we use numbers only, spelled-out numbers, or roman numerals?)
Assessment/review tasks
Reflection questions
- Are you good at math?
- What do you like about math?
- What don’t you like about math?
- How is math taught in your first country? For example, is there a lot of memorization?
- Do you have to use numbers very often in your daily life? How do you use numbers? Examples might include making change, paying bills, etc.
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ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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