A collage of cards to show different ways to represent a number.

Children need opportunities to learn about numbers. Counting, identifying numbers, and understanding quantity are foundational concepts that students build upon. Check out this blog post to see how I introduce different representations.

Join the Numberock crew as they learn about different representations of numbers.

Number Representation Cards

I have created a set of number cards that help to build or reinforce number sense and number representation!

This resource is perfect for Number of the Day and for practicing subitizing, counting, sorting, ordering, and comparing. You can use the cards for assessment, whole group, small groups, math centers, and card games.

Card Games

Match - Match 2 representation of a number
Memory or Concentration - Like Match, but the cards are turned over!
War - How to play
Snap - How to play

Ways to Sort

Sort by number
Odd versus Even
Number/Not the number (if you’re focusing on the number 4, sort the representations of 4 and numbers that are not 4)

We used these cards on the pocket chart together as a class and some students were already grasping the concept of telling time to the hour and adding coin amounts.

8 Number Representations:

Numeral
Word
Dots (Dice)
Tally Marks
Ten Frame
Fingers
Clock
Coin Value

I’ve created 2 versions of this resource: Number Representation 1-10 (TPT Store or BP Shop) and Number Representation 1-20 (TPT Store or BP Shop)

Knowing that numbers can be represented in different ways is key to building a strong foundation in number sense. Beyond the ability of identifying a number, is the understanding of each number as a quantity.

This catchy song by Jack Hartmann shows different ways numbers can be represented.

Model representing numbers in different ways

Demonstrate the following number representations:

Numeral
Word
Pictures
Tally Marks
Ordinal Number
Number Line
Ten Frame

Plus:

Coin Value
Clock
Before and After

Most of my kiddies quickly grasped these concepts, especially by the time we got to number 10.

A bulletin board with anchor charts showing ways to represent numbers.

We completed the chart as a class and then went on to complete a page from my Number Printing Practice resource which can be found in my TPT store or BP Shop. I introduced my Number Representation and Subitizing Cards as a center activity (TPT Store or BP Shop). Here’s a blog post with more information about the cards.