Recognising Missing Numbers

 


It is useful for children to be able to recognise - and fill in - a missing number from a sequence quickly.

Learning to Recognise Missing Numbers

  • Play Name That Number. Use one of our numbered Ten Frames and Ten Towers or one of our Number Lines. Grab some counters and cover over one of the numbers, and challenge your child to "Name that number!" When you child is happy naming one number, cover over 2, then 3 and so on.
  • Play with Number Cards. Print any set of our Number Cards - using cards from 0 to 10 or from 1 to 10. Take away one number and shuffle the cards, then ask your child to arrange them back into order and tell you the missing number.
  • Make a Treasure Hunt! Similar to the idea above, this time print out a set of Number Cards for each child or team of children. Identify the different sets of cards in some way - perhaps by placing a coloured sticker on the back. Take away one card from each set and hide the remaining cards. They don't have to be too difficult to find! Each child or team races to find their 9 (or 10, if you are including 0) cards, arrange them in order and identify the missing number. You could take away more than one card if you prefer.
  • What's the Missing Number? Use our fun double-sided What Number Cards from the Resources section below. You will find instructions on how to use them on the page.
  • Fridge Magnet Challenge. Put up a collection of numbers from 1 to 10 every morning, with 1 number missing. Challenge the kids to identify the missing number. Perhaps you could "hide" it somewhere for a quick game of search!
  • Worksheets. You will find a collection of missing number worksheets below.

Our Resources

Bat Number Order Worksheet Set 1

Bat Number Order Worksheet Set 1

Fill in the number before and after the number on the bat's tummy! We've provided 3 worksheets in this set, for numbers up to 10.

Fill in the Missing Numbers 1 to 10

Fill in the Missing Numbers 1 to 10

There are 2 worksheets in the pdf file below which take the children through filling in the missing numbers from 1 to 10, with an increasing number of blanks for them to fill in. For an extra activity we have also asked them to colour or circle a number in each row.

Fill in the Missing Numbers 10 to 1

Fill in the Missing Numbers 10 to 1

The two worksheets in this pdf file provide lots of "counting down" practice for the kids. We leave out more and more numbers as we go! As an extra activity we ask the kids to colour or circle one number in each row.

Fill in the Missing Numbers Mixed to 10

Fill in the Missing Numbers Mixed to 10

We have 4 pages of these mixed "missing numbers" worksheets, progressing in difficulty throughout the pack. Use them when children need extra practice at counting up and down from 10, or for revision when these skills have been mastered.

Missing Numbers Worksheet Set 1

Missing Numbers Worksheet Set 1

Help Fred the friendly dog learn to count up to 10, and count on, by filling in the missing numbers on this fun set of 4 worksheets.

Missing Numbers Worksheet Set 2

Missing Numbers Worksheet Set 2

Our second set of missing numbers worksheets works on "counting backwards" from 10 down to 1, and any number along the way. Help Felix the Fox with his counting backwards skills! There are 4 worksheets in the set, and they are available with UK and US school fonts.

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