Let's explore the exciting and unique number Eleven! It's our first 'teen' number's predecessor and looks like a pair of ones standing side by side. Let's learn about this special double-digit number!
Getting to Know the Number 11:
The number eleven is a very special and unique number! It's made of two '1's standing together as a team, making it the first number with two identical digits. When you see '11', it represents a group of 'one full ten, and one more'. It’s the next step after the big milestone of ten. Understanding 'eleven' is the gateway to understanding all the other 'teen' numbers and the concept of place value. It’s a number that shows how we can build bigger numbers by adding to our complete set of ten.
- The Whizki Learning Team
Seeing the Number 11 in Our World
The number eleven is a number of new beginnings after ten. Representing it in different ways helps your child visualize 'a full set and one more'. Here are a few ways we can show what 'eleven' really means.
The Numeral
This is how we write the number eleven. It's a team of two '1's, showing a new group of ten, and one single unit.
The Word
eleven [ɪˈlɛvən]
This is how we read the number. The word 'eleven' helps us talk about this specific quantity, like eleven players on a soccer team.
On a Ten-Frame
Eleven dots require two ten-frames: one completely full frame, and a second frame with just one dot. This is a powerful visual of '10 + 1'.
With Your Fingers
You can't show 'eleven' with just your fingers, and that's a lesson in itself! It shows us we need a new system for bigger numbers, often by using a friend's fingers too.
Practice the Number 11 at Home (No Screens Needed!)
The best learning happens through play. Here are a few simple, screen-free ideas to continue your number 11 adventure together and explore the world of double digits.
Team of Eleven
~1 This activity is great for learning about sports and counting. Many sports, like soccer, have a team of eleven players on the field at one time. You can set up eleven of your toys (like action figures or dolls) as a soccer team on the 'field' (a green blanket or rug). You can give them positions and even create a little soccer ball for them to play with. This activity connects the number eleven to a real-world concept and encourages imaginative play and storytelling. It’s a hands-on way to visualize a group of eleven.
The 'One More' Game
~2 This activity is fantastic for understanding the concept of '10 + 1'. You'll need ten of one object (like ten blocks) and one of another (like one toy car). First, count the ten blocks and confirm it's a full set. Then, add the one car and count them all together to get to eleven. Practice this with different objects: ten crayons and one marker, ten pebbles and one leaf. This simple, repetitive game builds a very strong and concrete understanding of how the number eleven is constructed, which is a crucial step for mastering place value and bigger numbers.
Eleven-Second Challenge
~3 This is a fun, high-energy gross motor game for practicing counting and estimating time. The game is simple: you challenge your child to do an activity for exactly eleven seconds. For example: 'How many times can you hop on one foot in eleven seconds?' or 'Can you stand perfectly still like a statue for eleven seconds?'. You can count aloud together. This game helps children develop a sense of time and rhythm, and it makes counting to eleven a joyful and physical experience. It's a great way to get the wiggles out and practice at the same time.
A Parent's Guide to Arabic Numerals (0-20)
You're doing a great job exploring the world of numbers! Each number has its own unique story. Use this guide as your adventure map to jump to another number you're curious about, or to see how they all fit together in one big, amazing family.
Get exclusive activities, expert tips, and inspiration for a more meaningful, offline family life.
At Whizki Learning, we believe in the magic of unplugged learning. It's a chance for kids to build real-world focus, develop their imagination, and strengthen fine motor skills away from distracting screens. We’re a team of parents and educators pouring our hearts into creating beautiful, screen-free workbooks that spark real curiosity and joy. Each one is proudly printed in the USA, because we know quality you can feel makes all the difference in a child's hands.All characters, names and events presented on the site are fictitious, any similarities with events, real people, living or dead, are purely coincidental.