Number Line Leap

What your child learns

Placing numbers on an empty number line is one of the best measures of number sense we know of. A child who can put 70 about three quarters of the way between 0 and 100 understands how big 70 is, not just how to say it. Number Line Leap builds that skill across six canyons, each with a bigger or trickier line.

The fraction canyon uses halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and eighths, including equal fractions like 2/4 and 4/8. The decimal canyon covers tenths and hundredths, like 0.7 and 0.62. These match the Common Core number line standards for Grade 2 (2.MD.6), Grade 3 (3.NF.2) and Grade 4 (4.NF.6).

How it works

Tap Play and the first number appears at the top, read aloud. Your child taps the line (or drags along it) and lets go where the number belongs. On a computer, the arrow keys move the aim and Enter leaps.

Each leap is scored by how far off it lands, as a share of the whole line. Land within 3 percent for three stars, within 7 for two, within 12 for one. The rock that rises from the canyon has a gold center and silver edges, so kids can see the target zone, and the true number is labeled on the rock face.

Every few leaps the question flips: a flag appears on the line and your child picks which of three numbers is at the flag. Reading a number line both ways is part of the skill.

A round is 10 leaps and takes two or three minutes. At the end your child sees their accuracy percent and stars.

Levels and how it adapts

Inside each canyon, the game starts with friendly numbers and adds harder ones as your child masters them. Numbers that give trouble come back more often. After two big misses in a row, helper marks appear on the line (like the halfway point) and the next few numbers are easier.

Every leap ends with the answer on screen, so kids never walk away wrong. When a leap earns one star or less, Kibo counts hops from 0 to the answer out loud: by ones on small lines, by tens or hundreds on big ones, and by equal parts for fractions. The game also says whether the leap was a little too far or not far enough.

A round with 93 percent accuracy or better opens the next canyon. If a round under 80 percent happens in a later canyon, the game offers a smaller line to practice on. Setting the age button changes where your child starts: ages 6 to 8 open the first three canyons, and ages 8 to 11 open all six.

Outfits, stickers and daily leaps

Stars from every leap add up, and they unlock outfits for Kibo, from a red scarf at 15 stars to a gold crown at 300. Stickers for the shared Sticker Book come from finishing a canyon for the first time, the occasional great round, and the daily challenge. Today's 10 leaps are the same for everyone that day and depend on the age setting, with a streak counter for days in a row.

Tips for grown-ups

• Ask "Is 37 closer to 0 or to 100? Closer to 30 or to 40?" Halfway points are the best helpers, and kids who use them land much closer.
• Draw a chalk line with 0 and 10 at the ends. Call out a number and have your child jump to where it goes.
• Fold a strip of paper in half, then in fourths. Label 1/2, 1/4 and 3/4 and talk about why 2/4 lands on the same fold as 1/2.

Privacy and safety

There are no ads, accounts, leaderboards or chat, and we don't run analytics or tracking on our learning games. The game makes no outside requests. Stars, outfits and progress are saved only on your device. It's free and plays in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer.

Questions