Using Flashcards to Teach Numbers

By Jan K., The Proofer

© Copyright 2008

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Flashcards are the perfect way to teach young children numbers! These flashcards are big and colorful, easy for little hands to hold. The beach ball used on the cards is brightly colored and will attract attention. The words and numbers on the reverse side are in large font and basic colors.

This illustrated page will provide some basic learning concepts as well as offer free flashcards, numbered 1-12, that you can download and print. There is no limit to how many sets of flashcards you can print, so this learning tool can be used for classrooms, after school care centers, or any children's learning group.

Postcards (available from office supply stores such as Office Depot) make the perfect print medium for creating flashcards that can be used to teach anything from basic numbers (as shown here) to very complicated subjects (as discussed in You Are Never Too Old to Use Flashcards).

This web page provides very basic lesson plan concepts as well as tips for using flashcards to teach young children numbers. You can download the free printable flash cards for numbers 1-12 (numbers 1-4 shown to the left). The links to the downloadable flashcards are provided below, with the teaching tips.

Once you start using flashcards, you'll find that they are fun, fast, and are powerful learning tools!

These flashcards are printed on postcards (Avery #3263) that are available at office supply stores such as Office Depot. The postcards are formatted as 4 per page (8-1/2 x 11 sheets), and each postcard is 5-1/2 x 4-1/4. The postcards are made from card stock, which is a heavier, more durable weight paper.

This illustrated page provides 3 sets of flashcards, numbers 1-12. Each set has the front side (the beach balls) and the back side (the words and numbers). The flashcards are printed by first printing the front side, and then putting the paper back into the printer to print the back side. The links to download these flashcards are provided below.

You will need to refer to your printer manual for help with how to print a two-sided document.

The front side of each flashcard shows a number of beach balls, starting with one beach ball and ending with 12 beach balls. The beach balls are colorful and easily recognizable.

The back side of each flashcard has the corresponding number, in all capital letters and numerals.

When printed properly, the flashcard with one beach ball on the front will have ONE, 1 on the back. Correspondingly, each successive flashcard will have the next number of beach balls on the front with the word and numeral on the back.

Note: You may need to experiment with your printer to determine how to put the paper back in so that the back side prints properly.

Once all of the flashcards are printed, you will have the perfect learning tool to teach young children their numbers!

• Divide the flashcards into two groups: numbers 1-6 and numbers 7-12.
• Arrange the flashcards so that the beach balls are all face up, in numerical order, for both groups.
• Show the first flashcard (one beach ball or seven beach balls) and teach the number (e.g., "This is one beach ball")
• Turn the flashcard over and show the word and the numeral (e.g., "This is how you spell ONE" and "This is the number 1")
• Continue to show the flashcards in one group, in number order, beach ball side up, until the child can say the correct number when shown one of the flashcards

• Divide the flashcards into two groups: numbers 1-6 and numbers 7-12
• Shuffle the flashcards, beach ball side up, so that they are not in number order
• Show the first flashcard and ask "How many beach balls are there?"
• If the child says the correct number, flash the other side of the card showing the word and number, and give the child a lot of praise
• If the child does not say the right number, prompt the child "Well, that is not quite right. Look again, and let's count how many beach balls we see" (and help the child point to each beach ball and say "One, two, three..." until all of the beach balls have been counted
• When the child finally says the right number, give the child praise, a high five, or any other happy words of congratulation
• Continue to show the flashcards, out of number order, until the child can easily recognize and say the correct number

• Divide the flashcards into two groups: numbers 1-6 and numbers 7-12
• Shuffle the flashcards, word/numeral side up, so that they are not in number order
• Flashcard the first card, and point to the numeral (the number, not the word)
• Ask the child, "What number is this? How many beach balls are there on the other side of the card?"
• If the child says the correct number, flash the other side of the card showing the beach balls, and give the child a lot of praise
• If the child does not say the right number, prompt the child "Well, that is not quite right. Look again, and let's think about what this number might be" (continue to give positive prompts until the child says the right number)
• When the child finally says the right number, give the child praise, a high five, or any other happy words of congratulation
• Continue to show the flashcards, out of number order, until the child can easily recognize and say the correct number

• Divide the flashcards into two groups: numbers 1-6 and numbers 7-12
• Shuffle the flashcards, word/numeral side up, so that they are not in number order
• Flashcard the first card, cover up the numeral with your other hand, and point to the word
• Ask the child, "What number does this spell? How many beach balls are there on the other side of the card?"
• If the child says the correct number for that word, reveal the numeral, and then flash the other side of the card showing the beach balls, and give the child a lot of praise
• If the child does not say the right number, prompt the child "Well, that is not quite right. Look again, and let's think about what this number this word spells" (continue to give positive prompts until the child says the right number)
• When the child finally says the right number, give the child praise, a high five, or any other happy words of congratulation
• Continue to show the flashcards, out of number order, until the child can easily recognize and say the correct number

The links to the free downloadable flashcards are provided below.

Download the free flashcard Word files:

• Cards 1-4: Flash01, Flash02
• Cards 5-8: Flash03, Flash04
• Cards 9-12: Flash05, Flash06

Download all six flashcard Word files:

• Flashcards (a zip file)

If it is clear that the child is struggling to learn, then group the flashcards in threes: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9, and 10-11-12. Practice only three cards at a time, and go through all the different ways to shuffle and display the cards. Don't move on to the next group until the child gets a high five, a gold star, or a hug and a kiss for giving all three correct answers.

When the child has learned more cards, then begin to shuffle in cards from the group that was already completed. If the child struggles with trying to remember all six (the first two groups put together, numbers 1-6), then just shuffle one card from the previous group in. Do not add more cards until the child can give four correct answers.

Continue in this manner until the child knows and can spell numbers 1 to 12.

You need two Word document files for each set of four cards (1-4, 5-8, 9-12). One is the front (the beach balls) and the other is the back (words and numbers). You will need to print the front of the cards and then put that page of cards back into the printer in order to print the back of the cards. You may need to experiment with your printer about how to put the printed page in so that the back prints properly.

Links to the downloadable Word files for the flashcards shown to the left. The links open in a new window for your convenience. Save them to your computer for faster download time.

If so, you can make more of your own! Continue with more numbers or make flashcards for letters or for spelling simple words (a picture of a cat on one side and the word CAT on the other side).

This tutorial will provide the easy-to-follow steps for creating your own flashcards:

• How to Make Flashcards

Get teaching tips as well as free downloadable worksheets (including the worksheet pictured at left):

• Using Worksheets in the Classroom

Why not learn how to make your own lesson worksheets?

Get a fully illustrated, step-by-step tutorial for making worksheets:

• How to Make Easy Lesson Worksheets

Get a full set of free printable beginner's fractions flashcards as well as classroom lesson tips at:

• Learning Fractions: Flashcards for Simple Fractions

 

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Jan K., The Proofer owns the copyright on all tutorials and crafts. © Copyright 2005 to present.