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Swahili Numbers 1–5

Third graders count from one to five in Swahili (nambari) — moja (one), mbili (two), tatu (three), nne (four), tano (five). They put the numbers in order and count real things.

Grade 3Numbers 1-545 minutes1 class periodACTFL / World LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Count 1 to 5 in Swahili.
  • ✓Order the numbers.
  • ✓Count real things.
  • ✓Say how many.
Essential Question

moja, mbili, tatu… how do you count in Swahili?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Numbers 1–5

Project this and have students put the Swahili numbers in order from moja to tano.

🔢 Put the Swahili numbers in order — moja to tano!Try it
Tap “moja” (one) first!
The Lesson · Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Counting in Swahili

5 min

How do you count in Swahili?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Hold up fingers.
  • Count “moja, mbili…”
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Count.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Numbers

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Model moja to tano.
  • Send students to Order the Numbers.
  • Say each aloud.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch.
  • Order.
  • Say.
3

Practice — Practice

12 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Count objects to 5.
  • Say a number.
  • Count together.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Count.
  • Say it.
  • Count.
4

Speak — Speak

12 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say how many pencils (in Swahili).
  • Count with a partner.
  • Trade counts.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Count.
  • Trade.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a number.
  • Count to five.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say one.
  • Count.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Novice-Low).

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand numbers.

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: count aloud.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to math counting.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: say how many.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Number cards 1–5.
  • Count with fingers.
  • Repeat aloud.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with moja–tatu.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Use objects.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Count to 10 (sita–kumi).
  • Count classroom items.
  • Add simple sums.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔢Number cards
  • 💻Order the Numbers 1–5
  • ✏️Objects to count
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

nambarinumbersmojaonembilitwotatuthreennefourtanofivesitasixsabaseven
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How do you say “three” in Swahili?
tatu.
QUESTION 2
What number is tano?
Five.
QUESTION 3
What comes after mbili?
tatu (three).

Reflect: numbers.

Have students count to five in Swahili for a family member. A printable Swahili numbers sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Swahili Numbers 1-5Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Swahili Numbers 1-5Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Swahili Numbers 1-5Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: mbili, moja, nambari, nne, saba, sita, tano, tatu
  1. four
  2. six
  3. three
  4. two
  5. five
  6. seven
  7. one
  8. numbers

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you say “three” in Swahili?
  2. What number is tano?
  3. What comes after mbili?
Answer key — Part A: 1) nne · 2) sita · 3) tatu · 4) mbili · 5) tano · 6) saba · 7) moja · 8) nambari
Part B: 1) tatu. 2) Five. 3) tatu (three).