The number caterpillar
An educational game for ordering numbers on the interactive whiteboard. At the top is a caterpillar’s head with empty body segments behind it. Below are the loose numbers. Children drag them into place, smallest to largest, and each correct number turns a segment green. When the caterpillar is complete, the team scores a point.
What children practise
- Ordering numbers from smallest to largest and largest to smallest.
- Comparing amounts using the words smaller and larger.
- Placing numbers in the number sequence, from 10 up to 10,000.
- Comparing multi-digit numbers by looking at the value of each digit.
- Recognising numbers to 10 in Early years.
Levels and settings
Early years
3 or 4 numbers up to 10.
Y1
Numbers up to 20.
Y2
Numbers up to 100.
Y3-Y4
Numbers up to 1000.
Y5-Y6
Numbers up to 10,000.
Easy, Medium or Hard
From Y1, caterpillars of 4, 6 or 8 segments (10 in Y5-Y6). On Hard, from Y3, the numbers are very close together.
How to play it in class
- Open the game and choose the year group and difficulty: how many numbers and how big they are adjust themselves. The order is chosen in the settings.
- Both teams get the same numbers, each under their own caterpillar.
- Drag each number with a finger to its body segment. If it is right, the segment turns green; if not, the game says so and the number goes back.
- The first team to finish its caterpillar scores a point and new numbers appear. The winner completes 3 caterpillars on Easy, or 4 on Medium and Hard.
Ways to play
In teams, at the same time
The screen splits in two and each team plays on its own half at the same time.
For one player
One child plays on the whole screen at their own pace: on the whiteboard, a computer or a tablet.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work in Early years?
Yes. Early years get 3 or 4 numbers up to 10, and the labels at each end show which way the caterpillar grows.
Can children order from largest to smallest?
Yes. Choose the order in the settings: smallest to largest or largest to smallest.
What does very close together mean?
Numbers near each other, such as 455, 482 and 497, so children have to look at every digit. They appear on Hard from Y3, or when chosen in the settings.
Is it free?
You can play 5 free games without signing up. After that, a one-off payment of €9.99 unlocks all 78 games for ever, on all your devices. There is no subscription.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It opens in the browser of the interactive whiteboard, panel, computer, tablet or iPad. Once loaded, it also works offline.
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