Using Pizza-Themed Resources to Teach Numbers 1–20

 This resource is part of the Food Unit for Elementary English Language Starters. LINK: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Food-unit-for-Elementary-English-Language-Learners-Starters-11035412

This resource reinforces numbers 1 to 20. It supports cross-curricular learning by blending math and English language content.

Each whole pizza flashcard shows a clear quantity of pepperonis, helping students see the number they're learning.

The combination of pictures and numbers provides contextual clues. Hand in the flashcards to several students and they should order themselves as they say each number on their card.

Play a Matching Game with the small cards. Have students match the numerals to the pizza with the correct count of pepperonis.

Mix up the small cards and ask students to arrange them from 1 to 20 in order. This can be done individually, in pairs, or as a classroom team challenge.

Writing Activity. Students pick up a card and count the pepperonis on the pizza. Then, write the number word and numeral.

The worksheets provide a hands-on, quiet-time opportunity for students to practice and demonstrate their understanding.

Worksheets offer a way for students to work individually and apply what they’ve learned in a focused environment. Students count the pepperonis on each pizza, write the numeral. Then, they cut the number words from the template provided and glue on each pizza.

Teachers can use completed worksheets to informally assess counting skills and number recognition. This one is as easy to read, count and color.

You can send any worksheet for homework.

Students count the pepperonis on each pizza and match the correct number.

Play Roll and Match with the printable board game.  🎲 Each student rolls a die and moves forward that number of spaces. When they land on a pizza number space, they: Say the number aloud: “There are 18 pepperonis.” Then, match it to a mini card.

These numbers mats support number recognition, counting, and word association by giving students a physical and visual way to match and manipulate pieces. Place a mat and the cards. Students must find the matching cards.

This resource has more to check, go to this blog post:https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/03/hamburger-prepositions-for-primary.html 

I've gathered interactive games, worksheets, and creative ideas to make teaching this unit fun!  📌 Follow my Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl/esl-numbers-and-math/numbers-1-to-20/

Giraffe Family for Elementary EFL

 This resource is included in the Zoo Animals for EFL. Click here:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Zoo-Animals-Flashcards-for-EFL-3611842

By linking the family unit with zoo animals like giraffes, learners can apply that vocabulary in a new context. This reinforces word meaning and helps them generalize language.

Using the giraffe family flashcards offers a neutral, inclusive way to talk about family structure, which may vary from student to student.

Plan to use a grid with the flashcards or small cards to get an active response for the family language in review. Students will grid the information read out by you: This giraffe has a dress. It is red.

Students: C1!! It’s the sister giraffe.

Written work on their notebooks where they will write several sentences from the grid on the board.

To add a hands-on, tactile element to your giraffe family unit, I included an engaging activity where students build family vocabulary words using fun foam letters. The small giraffe family cards serve as visual prompts and guides. Each student selects a card—mother, father, baby, sister, or brother—and then uses fun foam letters to spell out the corresponding word.

This activity reinforces letter recognition, word formation, and vocabulary recall in a playful, multi-sensory way.

Pocket Chart Sentence Builder. Students use the blank sentence templates and write like “This is brother giraffe.” to build simple family sentences.

Create pairs with the printable puzzle.  Place all the pieces face down and students flip cards to find matching pairs.

This simple path board game featuring giraffe family members allows students to practice vocabulary while having fun. Students roll a die, move their token, and say the word on the space they land on (e.g., “This is the mother giraffe”).

In the giraffe family unit, worksheets offer a calm and independent way for students to review, practice spelling, match images to words, and even build sentences using the target vocabulary.

A worksheet for labeling each member using the vocabulary words.

More worksheets!

Finger puppets connect emotionally with new vocabulary bringing characters to life. Use these for Role-Play Conversations.

This resource is available individually here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Giraffe-Family-ESL-Resource-13478626

This resource has more to check, go to this blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/04/zoo-animals-have-body.html 

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Beach Unit Small Cards

  This resource is included in Beach Unit for Elementary at this link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Beach-Unit-for-Elementary-ESL-4075972

Small cards are a mini version of the flashcards, making them easy to use for individual, pair, or small group activities.

Use the cards as Writing Prompts. Students can pick a card and write affirmative or negative sentences based on the picture, using the speech bubbles provided.

Hands-On Learning: Students can sort cards into different categories: Things you wear / Things you use, Activities / Objects as in my example. Ask the questions: What do you need for each action?

Grammar Practice: Students can use sentence cards in the present and past continuous tense (e.g., "I am playing with the ball" / "She was swimming"). Students will match all the cards in the tense you are teaching. They can write the sentences on their notebooks.

Fast Finishers: Perfect for students who finish early—give them a set of small cards without the words and have them write the word for picture.

Visit my Instagram account, @rosamelia_eslteacher, because it offers a wealth of ideas and inspiration for teaching English to young learners. Find Resources for your classroom activities.

Counting apples 1 to 20 for Elementary ELLs.

 This resource is included in The Fruit and Vegetables level 1 for Elementary ELLS.LINK:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fruit-and-Vegetables-level-1-for-Elementary-ELLS-12275711

Using this resource students will review the recognition of numerals and number words, an essential early math skill. Understanding numbers 1 to 20 prepares students for more advanced skills like addition, subtraction, and skip counting.

These flashcards are especially effective because they combine math skills with language development.

Students can use full sentences like "There are ten apples" or "I see five apples," supporting sentence structure, pronunciation, and fluency.

How Many Apples? Game

Hold up a flashcard and ask, “How many apples are in the basket?”

Students: There are thirteen!

Let students sort the flashcards in order from 1 to 20—or backwards!

Apple Basket Bingo. Play using the small cards.  Give each student a bingo board worksheet. There are 4 boards. They can write 5 numbers on each one.

Teacher: Let’s play with board 1.

Call out numbers using the small cards. If they have that number of apples on a card, they cover it. The boards can be used several times.  This is a game will a focus on listening and number identification.

Worksheets are useful for repetition through written tasks helps students remember number words and symbols.

This is a read and color worksheet. Students count the apples in a basket and color the correct number. There is a cut out numeral worksheet to glue on each basket.

Match the correct numeral to the number word.  Draw a line.

Write the number words worksheets.

A set of worksheets. First, dictate the color of each numbered apple. Then, students will complete the color of each apple.

Number words appear in many subjects—math problems, science instructions, classroom directions—so mastering them improves academic success across the board.

Count and Match Game

Spread out numeral cards (1–20) and have students match them to the correct basket of apples.

Print three sets—one with numbers (1–20), one with apple baskets, one with words. Students take turns finding a match. This will focus on number recognition and matching quantities.

The board game is great for early finishers, math centers, or small group work.  It comes with 4 paths to choose from. Prepare the apple game markers. Players take turns rolling the die and moving their marker the correct number of spaces along their path. When landing on a space, the player says the number word out loud (e.g., “Seventeen!”). The first player to reach the end of their path is the winner.

A 3-wheel template that matches the quantity of apples, the numeral, and the number word is a highly interactive tool that supports visual, tactile, and linguistic learning. It will strengthen Number-Word Recognition by connecting numerals (e.g., “8”) with number words (“eight”) and visual quantities. 

Cut out the three circular wheels. Layer the wheels in order.  Fasten them together in the center using a brass fastener.

Students will spin the wheels to mix and match until all three parts show the correct match. Say the full match out loud: “I see six apples. The number is 6. The word is six.”

This resource is also available individually here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Counting-Apples-1-to-20-ESL-Number-Words-Numerals-Quantity-Activities-for-13444531

This resource has more to check, go to this blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/11/fruit-and-veggies-booklet-for.html

Here’s why you’ll love visiting my other blog EFL Preschool Teachers: https://eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com/

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