📏 Number Line Maker with Jumps: Draw and Print

How to use it

1. 1. Set the line

   Type the first and last numbers and the gap between tick marks. For counting by 5s along 0 to 50, use 0, 50 and 5. Negative numbers are fine.

2. 2. Plan the jumps

   Say where the first jump starts, how far each jump goes and how many jumps to make. A jump of -2 counts backwards, so it works for subtraction too.

3. 3. Draw it

   Press Draw the number line. Each jump is an arc labelled with its size, and the number sentence appears underneath with the total worked out exactly.

4. 4. Print or project

   Use Print the number line for a worksheet, or leave it on the class screen and change the numbers as you go. Only the line and the sentence are printed.

Ideas for class and home

• Addition as jumps

  Show 8 + 5 as five jumps of 1 from 8, or as jumps of 5. Children see that addition means moving along the line and can check the total at the end.

• Counting back for subtraction

  Start at 15 and jump by -3 four times. The arcs go left and the sentence reads 15 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 = 3, which links subtraction to counting back.

• Skip counting and times tables

  Draw 0 to 36 with jumps of 4. Each landing number is a multiple of 4, so the line becomes a picture of the four times table.

• Negative numbers

  Set the line from -10 to 10 and start jumping at 3 with jumps of -2. Children watch the jumps cross zero and see why the answer is below it.