Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal Numbers in IB PYP Grade 1 Mathematics

Ordinal numbers tell us position or order: first, second, third. They answer the question which one? in a line, a race or a list. In PYP Grade 1, learners read, write and use ordinals up to tenth.

PYP learning is inquiry-based, so every worksheet here is short, colourful and playful, with a friendly animal guide and a teacher answer key on page 2.

What learners practise

Finding first to tenth in a line
Matching numbers to ordinal words
Writing ordinals like 4th
Writing ordinal words

Ordinals at a glance

1st first, 2nd second, 3rd third
4th to 10th: fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth
Cardinal vs ordinal: 3 counts how many; 3rd says which one
Short form: a number plus st, nd, rd or th

For students

Read each instruction carefully, try every question and colour the animal when you finish.

For parents

Print on A4, read the instructions aloud together and let your child work alone before you check.

For teachers

Use a worksheet as a starter, homework or exit ticket. Each one has a name, class and date box and an answer key.

Teaching tip

Line children up and ask who is first, third or last. Real queues, races and lines make ordinal words meaningful.

Quick answers

Who is the Ordinal Numbers page for?

It is for IB PYP Grade 1 Mathematics learners, typically aged 6–7, and for the parents and teachers who support them.

What is the difference between 3 and 3rd?

3 tells us how many. 3rd tells us the position, like third in a line.

Up to which ordinal do Grade 1 learners go?

Usually tenth, and sometimes further in a number line to 20.

How should I use these worksheets?

Pick one worksheet, let your child try it without help first, then check together with the answer key on page 2. Short sessions of five to ten minutes, a few times a week, work best.