More Number Practice for the World Language Classroom

Numbers are a must know in any language you are learning. Our students need many opportunities to practice the numbers in their second language. I have given a few number practice ideas in this post, however, we need many activities and opportunities to use numbers in the classroom to keep students from becoming bored.

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Often our students learn each subject in isolation from one another. We keep science for the science classroom, math for the math classroom, etc. In the language classroom, we have an opportunity to integrate all these various subjects into what we teach. If you are working on numbers, integrating math terminology into the practice makes the language relevant and useful. Playing math games to practice language makes learning numbers more fun. Numbers are also important in historical timelines, dates, phone numbers, and so many other aspects of day-to-day communication.

Here are a few number activities to add to your classroo arsenal. Some even include math terms.

Run and Write

This is one of my favorite games for number practice. Also, it is great for vocabulary review. I like this activity because it is competitive, it gets students out of their seats, and it is physical. Best of all it needs ZERO prep time.

• Split the classroom into 2 or more teams (this will depend on the number of students you have and the size of your classroom).
• Place a starting line for each team in the back of the classroom (I use painters tape).
• Give the first person in the line an Expo marker. (I use a different color for each team but this is not necessary).
• The teacher stands at the front of the room near the whiteboard.
• The teacher will sign a number.
• The first person in the line will need to run to the board and write the number.
• The first team to write and get it correct gets a point.

Be advised, this could wreak havoc on your Expo markers. Students tend to write very hard during this game. Also, I require every student to participate. Everyone should have the chance to run and write.

In this game, you can also use math equations and terms to build more vocabulary. Try signing “ADDITION” “SUBTRACTION” “MULTIPLY” and “DIVIDE.”

Business Cards

This one is especially fun since it is real-life focused and works on many different skills like fingerspelling, numbers, and occupations. Pass out business cards to students that will have a fake name, email address, occupation, address, and phone number. Once students have a business card you can use them in two different ways.

1. The low prep way is to have students create a business contact list or an address book. Each student will get a handout with partial information on it. They will need to ask other students questions to complete the information on the worksheet. For example, the handout might have a phone number on it but no other information. They would need to gather that information by asking questions like, Is your name Tom? Do you work as an interpreter? What is your email address? In this particular activity, all students will have the same handout.
2. Option 2 is similar to this but would require more teacher prep time. This time you would need several different “contact sheets,” one for each student. The sheet would need to have partial information on 4 – 5 people, not an entire list. Students would need to ask the same type of questions as above, however, they may not need that person’s information in their address book. This option needs less class time but more prep time.
3. For a quick and easy way to do this, make a blank document (I like mine to look like a cell phone). Have students meet up with 4 -5 people and write all of the contact information in their “phone.”

Get pre-made business cards and cell phone worksheets here.

Around the World

This is another game that works with numbers or vocabulary. This game will allow you to practice numbers and math terms as well. Here is what you need to do.

• Create a deck of cards showing math problems like 5 x 2 or 7 + 9. Or you can simply sign the math problems to get some additional receptive language practice.
• Have students sit in their desks in a semi-circle or stand in a circle if moving desks is not an option.
• Student #1 will stand in front of student #2’s desk.
• Show one of the math problem cards you created to the students.
• The student that answers the problem fastest and correctly moves to desk #3.
• The student who loses sits in the desk of student #2.
• The winner is the student who can beat everyone in the circle (hence around the world).

Since students need to be quick in solving the math problems and recall the ASL number, it is best to keep your math problems simple. Get the FREE set of flashcards here.

Card Games

Card games can be a fun way to practice numbers. Decks of cards are cheap, easy to store, and flexible…you can play them anywhere. Cards are also the perfect way to add some culture study into your classroom. Card games can teach eye contact, communication strategies, eye gaze, and maneuvering a conversation.

Try games like UNO, Crazy 8, or Go Fish. You can even get math flashcards at the Dollar Store.

Partner Bingo

Partner Bingo allows students to practice expressive and receptive language. This is just like Bingo, but students play in partners. Each student will get a bingo card and a set of numbers to call out. You can do this two different ways.

1. One student can call out the number and both students can cover the number if they have it on their board. Play continues back and forth.
2. Create your own bingo cards for partner A and partner B.
   Partners will have a list given to them of what order to call out numbers (one for partner A, one for partner B, with a different order).  Students take turns reading off their lists, so they get both listening and speaking practice.

Obviously, the second option takes a little prep time but can be more focused on what you want students to practice (specific sets of numbers).

Add some of these activities to your lessons this week and improve your students‘ number recognition.

Get a FREE Bingo template download here.

You may also like these other number practice activities: Number codes and Raffle tickets.

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