TDSB Mathematics for Families & Caregivers

Movement is Magnitude

Overview

Movement is magnitude is the idea that, as one moves up the counting sequence, the quantity increases by 1 (or by whatever number is being counted by), and as one moves down or backwards in the sequence, the quantity decreases by 1 (or by whatever number is being counting by) (e.g., in skip counting by 10’s, the amount goes up by 10 each time).

Movement forward or backwards, for example, on a number line, a clock, or a scale results in an increase or a decrease in number magnitude.

While students are learning the counting principles, these principles, such as movement is magnitude, are important foundational skills that must be consolidated into a strong understanding. You will find that many of the counting principles are interconnected. Once students have a solid understanding of the counting principles, many of them will become key ideas that support students as they develop addition/subtraction strategies for learning mathematics.

Supporting Students with Movement is Magnitude

To support students learning that movement is magnitude it is important to give students many opportunities to compare concrete representations of amounts. Having number lines or number paths that students can stack manipulatives on will allow them to see a direct comparison between amounts (e.g., 5 has one more block than 4).

Activities to Promote Movement is Magnitude

Stack It! Activity

During this activity, students will practice stacking objects to solidify their understanding of the quantity that a number represents and its comparison to other number quantities (as greater than or less than).

Stack It! activity instructions (English)

Stack It! activity cards (BLM) (English)

Stack It! activity cards (BLM) (French)

Magnitude Number Line

During this activity, students will practice stacking objects to solidify their understanding of the quantity that a number represents and its comparison to other number quantities.

Magnitude Number Line activity instructions (English)

Magnitude Number Line (BLM) (English)

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