Cardinal or Ordinal Numbers Themed Activities
Click the button below to get instant access to these premium worksheets for use in the classroom or at a home.
This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Click the Edit button above to get started.
Download free sample
Not ready to purchase a subscription yet? Click here to download a FREE sample of this worksheet pack.
Definition
Cardinal numbers are numbers that tell how many objects are in a group or set. They describe quantity or amount. For example, in the sentence “There are 6 balloons,” the number 6 is a cardinal number because it tells how many balloons there are.
Ordinal numbers are numbers that tell the position or order of an object or person in a sequence. They answer the question “Which one?” or “What position?” Examples include 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third), and 4th (fourth). For example, in the sentence “Mia finished 2nd in the race,” 2nd is an ordinal number because it describes Mia’s position.
Understanding cardinal and ordinal numbers helps children recognize that numbers can have different purposes. Cardinal numbers represent quantity, while ordinal numbers represent position or order.
For example, if 8 children are standing in a line, the number 8 is a cardinal number because it tells the total number of children. If a child is 5th in line, the ordinal number 5th identifies that child’s position.
Young learners can practice cardinal numbers by counting toys, animals, shapes, classroom objects, or other familiar items. They can practice ordinal numbers by identifying the positions of people or objects in a line, arranging pictures in sequence, or describing the order in which events occur. When working with ordinal numbers, it is important to establish a clear starting point or direction, such as left to right, so that positions can be identified correctly.
The concept plays a key role in early elementary math and aligns with U.S. Common Core State Standards (CCSS), particularly in the following areas:
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4 – Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities and connect counting to cardinality.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4.C – Understand that the last number name said when counting tells the number of objects counted, regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.5 – Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 objects arranged in different ways, or count out a given number of objects from 1 to 20.
Cardinal or Ordinal Numbers Themed Activities
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Cardinal or Ordinal Numbers across 14 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Common core aligned Kindergarten Math worksheets.
Each ready to use worksheet collection includes 10 activities and an answer guide. Not teaching common core standards? Don’t worry! All our worksheets are completely editable so can be tailored for your curriculum and target audience.
Resource Examples
Click any of the example images below to view a larger version.
Worksheets Activities Included
- Rocket Launch Count
- Astronaut Line-Up
- Moon Rock Mission
- Planet Parade
- Space Station Sort
- Alien Arrival
- Satellite Search
- Galaxy Race
- Mission Control Challenge
- Journey Across the Galaxy
Frequently Asked Questions
Cardinal numbers tell how many objects there are, such as 1, 2, 3, or 10. Ordinal numbers tell the position or order of something, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 10th.
Cardinal numbers describe quantity, while ordinal numbers describe position or rank. For example, “There are five runners” uses a cardinal number, while “Ana finished fifth” uses an ordinal number.
Cardinal numbers are used for counting objects, people, or amounts, while ordinal numbers are used for describing order or position, such as places in a race, floors in a building, or items in a line.
