Ordinal numbers tell us position: first, second, third, fourth and so on. Before counting, find where 'first' is: the child next to the flag, or the winner of a race. Then count along, saying a position word for each person, up to and including the person you want. If 3 runners finish ahead of you, they are first, second and third, so you are fourth. Counting from the back is counting from the other end of the same line.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- ordinal number
- a word that tells position, like first, second or third
- position
- where something is in an order
Worked examples
Children queue at a flag. Counting from the flag, the orange shirt comes straight after 3 other children. What position is the orange shirt?
- 1.Start at the flag: first, second, third.
- 2.The orange shirt is the next one.
= fourth
9 runners are in a race. 2 runners finish ahead of Mia. In what position does Mia finish?
- 1.2 runners cross the line first: they are first and second.
- 2.Mia is next: 2 + 1 = 3.
= third
There are 12 children in a line. Leo is 5th from the front. What position is Leo from the back?
- 1.12 − 5 = 7 children are behind Leo.
- 2.From the back, Leo comes after those 7: 7 + 1 = 8.
= eighth
For parents
Method: Find first, then count to the person
What to say: Where is first? Count to the person and include them.
Common mistakes:
- Counts positions from the wrong end of the line.
- Counts the people before the person but not the person themself, so the position is one too early.
- Counts the people on the other side of the person, from the wrong end, and leaves the person out.
- Answers with a counting word (four) instead of a position word (fourth).