Before / After

What Are Before and After?

• Before and After are words we use to describe the order of things.
• They help us understand what comes first and what comes next in a sequence.
• In math, we use these words to find the position of numbers on a number line.

Understanding Numbers Every number has a neighbor that lives right next to it!

1. Before (The number to the left)

• To find what comes before, we go back 1 step (subtract 1).
• Example: What comes before 5?
• Answer: 4.

2. After (The number to the right)

• To find what comes after, we go forward 1 step (add 1).
• Example: What comes after 5?
• Answer: 6.

The "Number Neighbor" Game Look at this sequence: 7, 8, 9

• 8 is in the middle.
• 7 is before 8.
• 9 is after 8.

Why Do We Learn This?

• Number Sense: It helps you understand how numbers grow bigger or get smaller.
• Following Directions: It helps you follow steps in order, like in a recipe or a game.
• Telling Time: You need to know what comes before and after to read a clock or a calendar.

Lesson Summary

• Before means earlier or to the left ().
• After means later or to the right ().
• You can use a number line to help you find the "neighbors."