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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Click on the small right arrow at the top right of this video to see the Numbers playlist on YouTube or visit the “All about numbers” playlist.
NUMBERS WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Numbers” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities you can add to your lessons.
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ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
Kathy Garnsworthy, the creator of ESL Directions, is an 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, she specializes in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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