Let's explore the terrific and timely number Twelve! It's the number of months in a year and the hours on a clock face. It's a very important number for organizing our days and years. Let's learn all about it!
Getting to Know the Number 12:
The number twelve is a very important and useful number that helps us organize our world! It's made of a '1' and a '2' working together. When you see '12', it represents 'one full ten, and two more'. Twelve is a special number because it can be divided into many equal groups (by 2, 3, 4, and 6), which makes it super helpful. It’s the number of eggs in a dozen, the number of months in a year, and the number of hours on a clock face. Understanding 'twelve' helps us understand time and patterns in our daily lives.
- The Whizki Learning Team
Seeing the Number 12 in Our World
The number twelve is a number of cycles and organization. Representing it in different ways helps your child see it in the world around them. Here are a few ways we can show what 'twelve' really means.
The Numeral
This is how we write the number twelve. A '1' and a '2' standing together to represent a group of ten and two ones.
The Word
twelve [twɛlv]
This is how we read the number. The word 'twelve' is a special name, different from other 'teen' numbers.
On a Ten-Frame
Twelve dots require two ten-frames: one completely full frame, and a second frame with two dots. This is a powerful visual of '10 + 2'.
On a Clock
A clock face is a perfect circle of the numbers one through twelve. It’s one of the most important places we see this number every day.
Practice the Number 12 at Home (No Screens Needed!)
The best learning happens through play. Here are a few simple, screen-free ideas to continue your number 12 adventure together and see how this number organizes our world.
Make a Clock Face
~1 This is a fantastic hands-on activity that connects the number twelve to the concept of telling time. You'll need a paper plate, a marker, and some construction paper to cut out two clock hands (a short one for the hour, a long one for the minute). Together, write the numbers 1 through 12 around the edge of the paper plate, just like a real clock face. This is great practice for number writing and sequencing. Then, you can attach the hands to the middle with a brass fastener. You can use your homemade clock to practice telling time and to talk about your daily schedule ('At 8 o'clock, we eat breakfast!').
The Dozen Egg Count
~2 This is a simple, real-world activity that reinforces that twelve is also called a 'dozen'. Next time you have a full carton of eggs, use it as a learning tool. Open it up and count the twelve eggs together. The egg carton itself is a great visual tool for seeing a group of twelve. You can practice simple math problems: 'If we use two eggs to make breakfast, how many will be left out of our dozen?'. This activity connects the number twelve to a common household object and makes the concept of a 'dozen' concrete and understandable.
Months of the Year Song
~3 This is a fun, musical activity that connects the number twelve to the twelve months of the year. Learning the months is a key skill for understanding time and seasons. There are many simple and catchy songs about the twelve months of the year (you can easily find the lyrics online). Sing the song together! You can create simple hand motions for each month to make it even more memorable. For example, you can shiver for January, make a heart with your hands for February, and pretend to fly a kite for March. This turns memorization into a joyful, full-body musical experience.
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.
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