Teaching Preschoolers Their Telephone Numbers National Parents Center

Teaching Preschoolers Their Telephone Numbers

July 18, 2011 – 1:21 pm

Teaching preschoolers their telephone numbers need not be cumbersome. Students enjoy this part of their learning because it makes them feel grown up Teach them their phone numbers while having a blast

Of course students of a young age need to learn their telephone numbers for safety reasons. It is also a requirement in some Prekindergarten and Kindergarten curriculum.

Teaching telephone numbers to students of this age is more than memorizing. You want to give them hands-on practice as well. In this way they apply the visual numbers with the memory skills. This preschool telephone theme will provide a song, books, a lesson, crafts and games to provide a well rounded learning experience.

During circle time, take turns singing each telephone number (this can be done over a week or two by taking a few each day to sing). This works well to the tune, 867-5309/Jenny song. Have students participate by holding up the seven number cards in the phone number in sequential order (remember to make a hyphen to hold).

Prior Knowledge:

Students should be able to recognize numbers 0-9 before learning their telephone numbers. If not, have the students work with a teacher or assistant to learn the numbers as they play the game.

Anticipatory Set:

Have play telephones and telephone books available for students to see. Show and explain the purpose of a telephone and a telephone book.

Teach:

Use the telephone books above to help teach the reason we need to know our telephone number. Also, teach that a hyphen separates the first 3 digits from the last 4 digits. Have an example ready for students to view.

You will need:

Index cards or sentence strips

Black marker

Laminate (optional)

To Make:

Before preparing the game, contact parents to be sure you have each childs correct telephone number. Write students telephone numbers on index cards or sentence strips with the black marker. Print the students name on the back of his or her card. If possible, laminate for durability.

Download a number spinner template from TeacherVision and follow the directions to make it. It is best to use card stock and laminate for durability. Teachers may have accessibility to these spinners from their math curriculum, or from magnetic whiteboard kits.

To Play:

Before and after each game, have the students practice saying their phone numbers aloud. After awhile, students will naturally memorize them.

Students take turns spinning the number spinner. If a child spins a number in his or her phone number, he or she places a cube (or other manipulative as a marker) on the index card over the number.

The first student to cover each number in his or her phone number wins the game.

For privacy reasons, be sure that the phone numbers are put away after each use.

Keepsake:

At the end of the school year, students can take their phone numbers home.

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