Intermediate
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP

Counting Is Not the Same Everywhere

Explore how numbers are spoken in different languages by comparing small numbers across English, Irish and others. Identify related words and discuss how some languages build larger numbers as sums you can hear.

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    1 - Which Count Takes Longer? ~5 mins

    Count to five in English together. Now use the Irish words on the board and count to five again. Which stretch felt longer to say out loud, and why might that be?

    Irish 1 to 5: aon (ayn) · (doh) · trí (tree) · ceathair (kah-hir) · cúig (koo-ig)

    By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

    • Spot how the same small numbers sound in different languages
    • Sort true number cousins from words that only look alike
    • Talk about a number system that builds bigger numbers as sums

    2 - Same Number, Different Languages ~10 mins

    Flip each card, listen, and say the word back together. You will hear each number in five languages. English, Irish and French are the ones to keep. German and Spanish are quick cousin extras: listen for lookalikes, you do not need to learn every word.

    3 - Number Cousins ~10 mins

    How to sort
    • True cousin: real word family link.
    • Lookalike: only sounds a bit alike by chance.

    When each pair appears on the board, show thumbs-up for true cousins or arms crossed for lookalike. Then tell your partner one clue that helped.

    4 - Numbers in Your Copy ~5 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    Open your copy. Copy the three-language column from the board. Keep digits beside the words and check every letter against the model.

    Board model to copy:

    • 1 · one · aon · un
    • 2 · two · dó · deux
    • 3 · three · trí · trois

    5 - Number Bingo ~8 mins

    Bingo grids are ready on the board. Your table shares one grid. Listen for each call in English, Irish or French only. When you hear a match, point or whisper the square and mark it on your mini-whiteboard or scrap of paper. First full line for your table calls out!

    Pupil practice
    Module 3 · How Languages Work
    Lesson 16 · Counting Is Not the Same Everywhere
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