TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Sum it up

Activity Type Introduction

Reading, listening, In this numbers worksheet activity, students complete a number
writing and spelling crossword by doing sums.
activity, pairwork
Procedure
Language Focus Begin the activity by writing some simple add and subtract sums
on the board. Go through the sums and elicit the words 'plus' and
Numbers 0 to 20
'minus'. Then, elicit the answers from the class.
Add and subtract sums
Tell the students that they are going to complete a number
crossword by doing sums to practice numbers one to twenty and
Aim their spelling.

To complete a number Divide the students into pairs (A and B).

crossword by doing
sums. Give each student a corresponding A or B worksheet.

Have the pairs of students sit face to face and tell them not to
Preparation show their crosswords to each other.
Make one copy of the two
worksheets for each pair Explain that both students have the same crossword, but Student
of students. A has the words across and Student B has the words down. Their
task is to ask their partner for clues and complete sums to work
out the missing numbers on their crossword and spell the numbers
Level correctly.

Beginner (A1) Students then take it in turns to ask their partner for a clue to one
of the missing numbers on their crossword, e.g. 'What's 1 down?'
Time Their partner then reads the sum that corresponds to that number
20 minutes on their worksheet.

The other student does the sum to find out the number.

When the student has the answer, they spell the number.

If the spelling is correct, the student writes the number on their

crossword. If not, the student must try to spell the number again
until they get it right.

To make it more challenging all the sums use the same numbers
that appear on the student's own worksheet.

When the students have inished, they compare their answers.

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 NUMBERS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Sum it up

Student A

Ask your partner for clues to complete the crossword.

Example: What's 1 down?

2 3 4
T H R E E S I X

6
T W O
7 8 9 10
S E V E N T E E N
11 12
F I F T E E N
13
F O U R T E E N
14

15
T H I R T E E N
16
N I N E
17
E L E V E N
18
T E N

Read these clues (across) to your partner.

2. nine minus six

4. nine minus three
6. eleven minus nine
7. fourteen plus three
12. two plus thirteen
13. eleven plus three
15. fifteen minus two
16. three plus six
17. two plus nine
18. thirteen minus three

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 NUMBERS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Sum it up

Student B

Ask your partner for clues to complete the crossword.

Example: What's 2 across?

1
O

N
2 3 4
E E S

I E
5
T G V
6
W H E T
7 8 9 10
E N T E N S W
11 12
F N I I I E
13
O T N G X L
14
U Y E H F T V
15
R T T I E E
16
E E V E
17
E E E N
18
N N

Read these clues (down) to your partner.

1. eight minus seven

3. twenty minus twelve
4. twelve minus five
5. eight plus twelve
6. nineteen minus seven
8. eighteen plus one
9. nineteen minus one
10. four plus twelve
11. five minus one
14. twelve minus seven

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