All children need to learn their phone number. If there’s an emergency, they need to know how to dial 911. If they need to call their parents, they need to know their mom or dad’s phone number. It’s not always easy knowing how to teach phone numbers, but I think this hands-on activity is a great one!
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Here’s what you need for this activity:
- paper plates (I used this one)
- glue stick
- double-sided tape (make sure it won’t ruin your wall)
- printable numbers
How to set up the activity:
- Print the number printable
- Cut out the circles
- Use a glue stick to stick the numbers to the bottom of the paper plate
- Add double-sided tape to the paper plate and stick them to the wall.
- Make sure the plates are in this order, like a phone.
The goal of this activity is for your child to practice tapping numbers, like in the order of a phone number. It’s actually really fun! We began by learning how to dial 911. I had him lightly hit the numbers 9-1-1.
I’m sure they will be able to memorize 911 easily, but it will take some more practice for learning a home phone number or cell phone number. If you leave the numbers up on the wall, have your child practice it daily until they have it memorized.
I love using this method for teaching phone numbers because it involves the whole body and adds a sensory experience to help learn a phone number quicker. We’ll keep this up to keep practicing until the numbers are memorized.
Other Ways to Teach Phone Numbers
I love these other ways I found from other bloggers. Just click on the links to see their awesome ideas.
- A simple trick for memorizing phone numbers from Your Modern Family
- 8 ways to teach phone numbers and addresses from Lasting Thumbprints
- Printable cell phone from Encouraging Moms at Home
If you’d like to download the printable numbers I used in this activity, you can do that here –>Â Printable Numbers
I hope you’ll try this out. What ideas do you have for learning phone numbers?
Angela,
I discovered your site on Teachers Pay Teachers ( from a childcare client who was an elementary school counselor) I was searching you craft ideas and activities. I love your teaching methods, crafts, creativity and imagination. I have a variety of age groups – so I use Toddler, Preschool and Pre-kindergarten projects and academic activities. Thank you for your commitment to children and teachers by providing amazing and funs crafts and pintables, it makes my job so much easier. I will continue using your site with each season.
Aw thanks so much! You are so kind! I’m so glad my site is helpful to you!
What kind of tape did you use? I can’t get my plates to stay on the wall!!
I’m sorry! I used double-sided tape. It does depend on what type of wall you are using and the paint on the wall.
I taught my kids super quickly by singing my phone number to the tune of “She’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes”. It worked like a charm!
Great idea!
This is a brilliant idea!
I am definitely do this with my pre-k daughter this week.
Thank you for sharing this.
Just did my own version of this, and it worked so well!! I showed my daughter how it works and taped the important numbers to the wall right above the ‘phone’ pad so she could play whenever she wanted. I think she had it memorized within a week.
Thanks so much!
Wonderful! SO fun to hear that!
It’s a great idea. This will not only help them to remember phone numbers but also help them to recognize numbers.
This is awesome! Thank you so much !! 🙂