Numbers 500 to 999

Week 3

Learning Outcome

Identifies and writes the number that comes before or after a given number and the number that comes in between two numbers (from 501 to 999).

Objective

Children will identify and write the number that comes before and after a given number and the missing number in a sequence using a number line and other multisensory supports.

Prerequisites

  • Children can read and form numbers from 100 to 500.
  • Children are familiar with place value: hundreds, tens, and ones.

Pre-teach Vocabulary

Children will be familiar with the terms such as place value, hundreds, tens, ones, more than, less than, digit, and number name.

Introduction: Number Sequences

Warm-up Game: Clap and Count

Children are made to stand in a circle. The teacher starts counting from 501, and each child says the number with a clap. Occasionally, skip a number and ask, ‘What did we miss?’ to build awareness of number order.

Materials required:

  • Number flashcards (501 to 999)
  • Large classroom number line (floor version)
  • Mini number strips for each child
  • Whiteboards and markers or paper
  • Chalk and space for floor activities

Teaching Method: I Do—We Do—You Do

I Do (Teacher Models)

  1. Write a number sequence on the board: 584, ___, 586.
  2. Use a number line to point to 584, and move one step to show the missing number is 585.
  3. Repeat with another example: ___, 672, 673. Ask, ‘What comes before 672?’
  4. Write and say the complete sequence.

We Do (Guided Practice)

  1. Write a few sequences with missing numbers on the board.
  2. Ask children to come up to the board, use the number line, and fill in the gaps.
    • Example: 691, ___, 693. What is the number that comes between 691 and 693?
  3. Do a quick round of “Before-After” with number flashcards.

You Do (Independent/Group Practice)

  1. Give worksheets or whiteboards with incomplete number lines or sequences.
  2. Children complete missing numbers and check with a partner.
  3. Challenge: Write 5 numbers that come after 722 or before 905.

Video: Number sequences – Coming soon

ISL Video: Number sequences – Coming soon

LTM: DIY Flashcards – Coming soon

LTM: Printable Flashcards – Coming soon

LTM: Number Line – Coming soon

Activity 1: Story Path Numbers

Objective: 
To identify the numbers that come before and after a given number and a number that comes in between two numbers through a narrative – based path game.To identify the number that comes before and after a given number.

Importance of the activity for children:

Helps in developing:

  1. Cognitive skills (Concentration, listening, recalling, problem-solving)
  2. Fine motor skills (Talking and articulating)
  3. Social skills (Cooperation, waiting for their turn, playing together)
  4. Language skills (Concepts like before, after,  and in between)
  5. Emotional skills (Builds confidence in numeracy, promotes a sense of achievement that boosts self-esteem, and encourages pride in learning new skills)

Resources required:

  • Printed stepping-stones with numbers (501–520)
  • Character cut-outs (animals, people)

Setting for the activity:
The activity can be done indoors or outdoors depending on the space availability.

Type of activity: Group or pair activity

Role of the teacher: Demonstrator, observer and facilitator

Procedure:

  1. Lay out a path of printed stepping stones with numbers written on them. Choose a small sequence, say, 501 to 520.
  2. Read a story:

Story 1 – Bunny wants to reach his carrot at 518. He starts at 511. What steps does he take? What number comes next?

  • Children help Bunny move by calling out the next numbers in order.
  • Add occasional gaps (e.g., 512, ___, 514) and ask children to fill in the missing number.

Story 2 – Ellie the elephant is very thirsty. She starts her journey at 504 and wants to reach the waterhole at 513. Can you help Ellie take the right steps along the number path? What number comes after 504?

  • Oh no! One of the stones is missing: 507, ___, 509. What’s missing?
  • She’s close now! What number comes right before 513?

Story 3 – Fox returns to the den. Fifi the fox is heading back to her den at 520 after playing. She starts at 515. But some stones are out of order, and some are missing! Can you guide her safely?

  • Help Fifi fix this part: 516, ___, 518.
  • Which number comes just before 520? Let’s say the wind blew away a number.
  • What number should go between 517 and 519?
  1. The teacher can add a few more stories during the activity.

Observations:
The teacher observes whether children can correctly identify the given number and recognise the numbers before, after, and in between with confidence.

Conclusion:
Children engage with number sequences through stories and movement. They will be able to complete the number sequence up to 999.

Video: Story path numbers – Coming soon

ISL Video: Story path numbers – Coming soon

Activity 2: Fill the Gap Circle Game

Objective: 
To reinforce number sequence through collaborative play.

Importance of the activity for children:

Helps in developing:

  1. Numerical skills (Number recognition, sequencing, place value)
  2. Fine motor skills (Picking the flashcards)
  3. Gross motor skills (Running, standing)
  4. Cognitive skills (Taking a right position, memory recall, listening)
  5. Social skills (Cooperation, waiting for their turn)
  6. Emotional skills (Builds confidence in numeracy, promotes a sense of achievement that boosts self-esteem, and encourages pride in learning new skills)

Resources required:

  • Flashcards with numbers from 530 to 542
  • Floor space for circle

Type of activity: Group activity

Procedure:

  1. The teacher selects 7 children from the class. Each child is given a random number card from the sequence 530 to 542. Example cards: 531, 532, 534, 536, 538, 539, and 542.
  2. Children stand in a circle and hold their number cards out visibly for everyone to see.
  3. The teacher then selects 6 more children and hands each of them one of the missing number cards from the same range.
  4. These could be 530, 533, 535, 537, 540, and 541.
  5. The new group of children is asked to:
    Identify their number, and stand in the correct position within the circle, filling in the gaps to complete the number sequence.

Observation:
The teacher will observe the children while performing the activity to find if the children:

  1. Correctly identify the missing number in the sequence.
  2. Accurately position themselves in the correct place within the circle to complete the number sequence. 
  3. Use peer feedback effectively, listening to suggestions and adjusting their placement as needed.

Suggested variations in the activity:

  1. The teacher can start the activity by demonstrating with different numbers.
  2. The difficulty level can be increased by using a larger sequence and introducing more gaps.

Conclusion:
Children will be able to complete number patterns with support and peer interaction.

Video: Fill the gap circle game – Coming soon

ISL Video: Fill the gap circle game – Coming soon

Cross-Curricular Connection:

  1. Art Class:
    Create number posters with base 10 drawings for classroom display.
  2. Drama Class:
    Act out a short skit where a character forgets the number, and others build it using blocks.
  3. Language class:
    • Number stories can be told or read aloud.
    • Children can be asked to talk a few sentences using the numbers from 501 to 999. For example, ‘The fruit vendor has 650 mangoes, 600 bananas, and 950 kiwi fruits in his shop. My father bought 520 mangoes, 520 bananas, and 550 kiwi fruits’.

Assessment

The teacher can give the practice worksheet to children, which can be followed by an assessment worksheet.

Practice Worksheet: What comes after/before? – Coming soon

Practice Worksheet: What comes after/before? (Enlarged) – Coming soon

Assessment Worksheet: What comes after/before? – Coming soon

Assessment Worksheet: What comes after/before? (Enlarged) – Coming soon

Check list for teacher:

ActivityYesNoSometimes
Children can:
Identify and read numbers from 501 to 999
Identify the number they pick up
Identify the gap between numbers
Stand in the right sequence
Complete the activities in the given time
Do the activities independently
Express verbally and through actions, expressions, or gestures
Enjoy team work, appreciate others, and are willing to learn from others

Home Activity

Objective:
To choose the number that corresponds to the picture through an online fun activity.

Fun activity: Word Wall – Choose the correct number – Coming soon

Adaptations for addressing learner variability: Adaptations and strategies – Coming soon

Teacher Resource Document – Coming Soon

Source and Attribution of images:
All images used in the above Assets and Aids are originally created.
This digital material has been developed by the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini Inclusive Education Project, a unit of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, as a collaborative offering in the service of our nation.