Chapter 8 — Fun with Numbers

Chapter 8 of the Class 1 Maths NCERT textbook (Joyful Mathematics), "Fun with Numbers", teaches children to read, write, and count numbers from 21 to 100 through hands-on activities using a ginladi (number string), tens frames, number cards, and a slide-and-ladder game.

• Numbers 21 to 30 — Oranges and Boxes — The chapter opens with Simran packing oranges into boxes that each hold 10, introducing the idea of grouping into tens. Children learn to read and write numbers 21 to 30, matching each numeral to its word form such as Twenty One, Twenty Five, and Thirty.
• Numbers 31 to 50 — Counting Flowers and Neem Daatun — Children count everyday objects like flowers and neem daatun to explore numbers 31 to 50. They practise writing all numbers from Thirty One to Fifty in both numeral and word form.
• Numbers 51 to 100 — Mirrors and Designs — Ankita's mirror design introduces numbers 51 to 100, with the chapter covering each group: 51–60, 61–80, and 81–100, ending at one hundred. Children count and write every number in numeral and word form across these ranges.
• Ginladi and Tens Frames Activities — A ginladi (a string with numbered cards clipped at the right positions) helps children place numbers in order and understand where each number sits. Tens frames are also filled in to show numbers visually, with worked examples like 29 and 41 already done for reference.
• Slide and Ladder Game and Warli Art — Children fill in missing numbers on a 1–100 slide-and-ladder grid, which can also be played outdoors with chalk and ropes. The chapter closes with a Warli painting picture where children discuss what they see and count houses, people, and leaves, then make their own Warli drawing.

1. 01Numbers 21 to 100 are introduced and practised in groups: 21–30, 31–50, 51–60, 61–80, 81–100.
2. 02Each number is shown as a numeral and its full word name, for example 36 = Thirty Six.
3. 03A ginladi (number string with clips) is used to place number cards in the correct order.
4. 04Tens frames are filled in to show numbers visually; 29 and 41 are given as completed examples.
5. 05Children fill in missing numbers in sequences such as 34, ___, 36 and 42, ___, 44.
6. 06A slide-and-ladder grid covering 1 to 100 is completed by writing the missing numbers.
7. 07A project activity asks children to pack items into a matchbox and count how many fit, exploring numbers beyond fifty.