Days of the week and months of the year: what children learn
In this game children put days and months in order, like a timeline. The week starts on Monday, as it does on most UK calendars and diaries, and the year starts in January. The Quick quiz asks which day or month comes next.
Calendar enrichment, not a Common Core standard.
How to play
Put the events on the timeline from the earliest to the latest, then press Check. Tap an event, then a space on the timeline, or drag it there. Each game has 3 rounds with no timer. When you press Check, the events in the right place stay and show their dates, and you get one more try for the others. You get a point for each event placed right first time. For a quicker go, choose Quick quiz: 10 multiple-choice questions in 150 seconds (choose Relaxed for more time).
Step by step
- Say the days in order. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Saturday and Sunday are the weekend.
- After Sunday comes Monday. The days go round in a cycle: when one week ends, a new one starts again on Monday.
- Say the months in order. January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, then January again.
- Use what you know. Linking months to events helps: Christmas is in December, the summer holidays start in July. Birthdays are a good way to remember a month.
Worked examples
Example 1: Which day comes after Wednesday?
Working: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Answer: Thursday
Example 2: Put May, February, July and October in order.
Working: Say the months from January and pick them out as you go.
Answer: February, May, July, October
Example 3: How many months are there in a year?
Working: Count January to December.
Answer: 12
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Mixing up Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday comes straight after Monday; Thursday comes just before Friday.
- Starting the months in September because school starts then. The school year starts in September, but the calendar year starts in January.
- Forgetting that Sunday is followed by Monday. Draw the days in a circle so the week joins up.
Activities to try at home
- Look at a calendar each morning and say today's day and date.
- Sing a days-of-the-week or months-of-the-year song together.
- Mark family birthdays on a calendar and count the months between them.
Ideas for the classroom
- Start each day by updating a class calendar.
- Give students day or month cards to stand in order.
- Make a class birthday graph by month.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a color-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
How should I choose this game for my learner?
Calendar enrichment, not a Common Core standard.
Why does the week start on Monday?
Most UK calendars and diaries start the week on Monday, so the game does too. Some calendars start on Sunday.
Can it be played with a keyboard?
Yes. Tab to a card and press Enter to pick it up, then Tab to the place it goes and press Enter again. Choose Check when the line is full.