Free printable Number Sense activities, worksheets, games, learning centers and more! Everything you need for preschool and kindergarten students to learn about numbers. Students work on counting, subitizing, cardinality, ordinality, comparing, composing and decomposing, number lines, and estimating.
Number Sense is the understanding of numbers, their relationships, and how they work in the world around us.
Students with good number sense can mentally manipulate numbers, make reasonable estimates, recognize number patterns, and understand that numbers represent real quantities in their world.
Counting & Cardinality Worksheets
Counting is the systematic process of determining quantity by assigning number names in sequence. Involves one-to-one correspondence and understanding that each object gets counted exactly once. Cardinality is the understanding that the last number counted represents the total quantity of the set. When counting 5 objects, recognizing that “5” tells us how many objects there are in total.
Subitizing Worksheets
Subitizing is the ability to instantly recognize small quantities (typically 1-4 items) without counting. For example, immediately knowing there are 3 dots without counting each one.Our number sense worksheets, charts, flashcards, and learning center activities include a variety of subitizing skills, as well as number conservation for students to practice.
More Number Sense Concepts & Activities
Ordinality & Number Line Worksheets
Ordinality refers to the understanding of number order and position. Knowing that 7 comes after 6 and before 8, and that numbers have relative positions on the number line.
The ability to compare quantities and understand relationships like “greater than,” “less than,” and “equal to.” Find comparing numbers charts, games, learning centers, and worskheets.
Students learning number sense need to have a solid understanding of Part-Whole relationship. These printables show can be decomposed and composed. Knowing that 8 can be made from 5+3, 6+2, 4+4, etc.
Place value is the understanding that digits have different values based on their position. In 25, the “2” represents 20, not just 2. Find free printable place value activities for your students to practice to tens, hundreds, thousands, and even millions!
Why Teach Number Sense?
Developing strong number sense during early elementary is crucial because it serves as the building blocks for all future mathematical learning.
Rather than just memorizing math facts or procedures, children with solid number sense can think flexibly about numbers and solve problems in multiple ways. This deep conceptual understanding makes learning addition, subtraction, and later mathematical concepts much more accessible and meaningful, setting students up for long-term success in mathematics.
How to Teach Number Sense
Here’s the typical developmental order for teaching number sense concepts in early elementary:
- Number Recognition
- Subitizing
- Counting
- Cardinality
- Number Conservation
- Comparison
- Number Bonds (Part-Whole Relationships)
- Ordinality & Numberlines
- Place Value
- Estimation
Number Sense Concepts Explained
Here is a helpful list of number sense concepts with simple examples of what success looks like for your students. This is a simple way to assess which number sense concepts they have mastered and which need more practice:
- Number Recognition – Identifying and naming numerals
- Example: Seeing “3” and saying “three”
- Subitizing – Instantly knowing small quantities without counting
- Example: Looking at •• and immediately knowing it’s 2
- Counting – Saying numbers in order while pointing to objects
- Example: Counting toys “1, 2, 3, 4, 5”
- Cardinality – Understanding the last number counted tells how many total
- Example: After counting 5 toys, knowing there are 5 toys altogether
- Number Conservation – Knowing quantity stays the same when arranged differently
- Example: 4 blocks spread out = 4 blocks pushed together
- Number Comparison – Comparing which group has more, less, or same
- Example: Knowing 7 is more than 4
- Part-Whole Relationships – Understanding numbers can be split or combined
- Example: Knowing 6 can be 4+2 or 3+3
- Ordinality – Understanding number order and position
- Example: Knowing 5 comes between 4 and 6
- Number Line Understanding – Visualizing numbers as points on a line
- Example: Knowing 8 is farther right than 3 on a number line
- Place Value – Understanding digit position affects value
- Example: In 23, the 2 means 20, not 2
- Estimation – Making reasonable guesses about quantity
- Example: Guessing there are “about 15” jellybeans in a jar
Comment (1)
Activities and worksheets are all great and well-thought-out!