Number lines are more than just a series of numbers on a line. They’re a powerful visual tool that can help students of all ages grasp mathematical concepts with greater ease. From kindergarten to fifth grade, here’s how why number lines (or paths) should be an essential part of your classroom!
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Before we begin, let’s review the difference between number lines and number paths. A number line generally has each number atop a point on a line, and may or may not have arrows on each end. A number path boxes in the numbers and does away with points and arrows.
Both styles have their pros and cons, and depending on your needs and grade level, you may prefer one or the other. What really matters is that whichever type you choose, your students refer to it and use it often! For the purposes of this blog post both terms can be used interchangeably.
I can’t imagine teaching kindergarten without a number line. At this stage, the line serves as a visual representation of the order of numbers. Learning how to count, counting forward and backwards, and adding and subtracting numbers within ten are just some of the activities you can do with your kindergarten students.
Pro tip– don’t display the whole number line right away. Start with 0-10 and add on as students learn and need practice with larger numbers.
