Number & place value
Reading and Writing Numbers to 100
Year 1 · Year 2
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to read and write numbers from 1 to 100 in numerals.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to read and write numbers from 1 to 100 in words.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify and represent numbers on a number line.
- ✓By the end of this lesson students will be able to understand the order of numbers using a number line.
Key concepts
Numerals are the symbols we use to write numbers, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. These are called digits. We use these digits to make bigger numbers, such as 23 or 99. When we write a number using these symbols, it's called writing it in numerals.
Number words are how we say and write numbers using letters. For example, '1' is written as 'one', '10' is written as 'ten', and '25' is written as 'twenty-five'. It's important to learn how to spell these words correctly. Remember to use a hyphen for numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine (e.g., thirty-four).
A number line is a straight line with numbers placed along it at equal distances. It helps us to see numbers in order, count forwards and backwards, and understand which numbers are bigger or smaller. Numbers get bigger as you move to the right on a number line, and smaller as you move to the left.
Key facts to remember
- 1Numbers can be written in numerals (e.g., 5) or in words (e.g., five).
- 2The digits we use are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- 3A number line shows numbers in order, from smallest to largest.
- 4When writing numbers in words from twenty-one to ninety-nine, always use a hyphen (e.g., twenty-one, fifty-six).
- 5Practise spelling number words, especially 'one' to 'twenty', and the 'tens' numbers (twenty, thirty, forty, etc.).
- 6Moving right on a number line means numbers are getting bigger; moving left means they are getting smaller.
Worked examples
Example 1
Write the number 67 in words.
Answer
sixty-seven
Remember to use a hyphen for numbers like this, from twenty-one to ninety-nine.
Example 2
Write 'forty-two' as a numeral.
Answer
42
Be careful with the spelling of 'forty' – it doesn't have a 'u' after the 'o'!
Example 3
Draw a number line from 0 to 10 and mark the number 7 on it.
Answer
A number line with points for 0 to 10, and the point for 7 clearly marked (e.g., with a circle or a cross above it).
Ensure the numbers are evenly spaced on your number line.
Common mistakes
- ✗Spelling number words incorrectly, especially 'forty' (not 'fourty') and 'eighty' (not 'eighty-y').
- ✗Confusing 'teen' numbers with 'ty' numbers (e.g., 'sixteen' vs 'sixty', 'thirteen' vs 'thirty').
- ✗Forgetting to use a hyphen for compound numbers (e.g., writing 'twenty three' instead of 'twenty-three').
- ✗Placing numbers incorrectly on a number line, not keeping the spacing even or putting numbers in the wrong order.
- ✗Adding 'and' between the tens and ones when writing numbers in words (e.g., 'twenty and three' instead of 'twenty-three').
Exam tips
- ★Always read the number carefully, whether it's in numerals or words, before writing your answer.
- ★If you're unsure about the order of numbers, imagine or draw a number line to help you.
- ★Practice writing out number words regularly to improve your spelling and remember the hyphens.
- ★Check your answer: if you wrote a number in words, say it aloud to see if it sounds right. If you wrote a numeral, check its place value.
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