How to Use Number Boards for Number Sense Instruction

Number boards are an excellent addition to kindergarten number sense practice. They are a great way to show students the many different ways to represent a number. Not only will they help your students learn the numbers one to ten, but they will really get a deep understanding of each number! In this post, I wanted to share some tips on how to use number boards for number sense instruction.

Number boards are very helpful at the beginning of the kindergarten year. They allow you to focus on one number each week in an interactive way. Students can come up and help you fill in the number board, focusing on a particular section of the number board each day.

The different number representations that students can practice on a number board include: 

• Numeral
• Number name
• Number displayed on fingers
• Ten frame
• Correct number formation
• Tally marks
• Draw the correct number of objects
• Dominos (for different ways to make the number)
• Number line

After discussing each part of the number board as a class, students can complete additional number sense activities. These activities correspond to each part of the number board. When spaced out, number board activities can last for an entire week, focusing on one number at a time. I wanted to give you an example of what a typical week of number board activities might look like.

A Week of Number Board Activities

Day One

• Introduce the number and number word
• Model how to write the number
• Complete a Trace, Write, and Find number page
• Complete a Rainbow Write/Cereal Writing page (You could also fill in the numbers with shapes instead of cereal.)

Day Two

• Review how to write the number
• Make groups of the number (It’s really fun to have students stand in groups of the focus number.)
• Draw groups of the number
• Complete a Find Groups worksheet
• Make groups with manipulatives at tables

Day Three

• Review making groups of the number
• Review drawing the correct number of objects
• Practice tally marks
• Fill in the ten frame to go with the number (This is a great time to fill in a life-size ten frame!)
• Complete a cut and glue ten frame activity

Day Four

• Review filling in a ten frame and tallies
• Fill in the correct number of hops on the number line
• Fill in the domino in many different combinations to show the different ways to show a number
• Complete a Number Line page

Day Five

• Erase the entire board and have students come up and help fill in each part of the board again.
• Complete an All About the Number page

This is how I space out my number of the week using a number board, but you might want to switch it around to fit the needs of your classroom. I hope this gives you a starting point for how to use number boards for number sense instruction.

Number Board Printables

I have received many requests about my number boards for numbers one to ten. I put together everything you need so that you can make these number boards for your classroom! Also included in this resource are detailed instructions on how to make these number boards. You’ll also find more details about how to use these number boards in your classroom! (If you are interested in the printable worksheets I shared used with the number board, you can find those here.)

You can find the number board resource in the A Spoonful of Learning shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Save These Number Board Activities for Kindergarten

Be sure to add this pin to your favorite teaching board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to find these number board activities whenever you’d like to refer back to these number sense activities. If you’d like even more information about creating a number anchor chart for your classroom, you can check out this post!