Days of the Week & Months of the Year: Game and Tips
There are 7 days in a week and 12 months in a year. Knowing their order, and how many days each month has, helps children read calendars, plan and understand time.
📅 Play the days of the week and months game
Tricks that make it easier
- Sing the days and months in order every morning.
- Use the knuckle trick: knuckles are months with 31 days, the gaps between them have 30 (or 28/29 for February).
- Remember the rhyme: "30 days has September, April, June and November…"
- Point to today on a real calendar and ask: what day is tomorrow? What was yesterday?
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the order of June and July.
- Thinking every month has 30 days.
- Forgetting February has 29 days in a leap year.
A five-day practice plan
| Day | What to do (10 minutes) |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Play Calendar Explorer on this skill for 5–10 minutes. Read the explanation after every mistake. |
| Day 2 | Learn one trick from this page and use it out loud while you play. |
| Day 3 | Print the worksheet and try it without help. Mark it with the answer key together. |
| Day 4 | Play again and try to beat your personal best score or get three stars. |
| Day 5 | Mix it up: try the ⏱️ Timed test, or ask your child to explain the skill to you in their own words. |
Suits Senior Infants and 1st Class and 2nd Class.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are in each month?
January 31, February 28 (29 in a leap year), March 31, April 30, May 31, June 30, July 31, August 31, September 30, October 31, November 30, December 31.
How can I teach my child the days of the week?
Say them in order each morning, talk about what happens on each day, and play the calendar game for quick practice.
How many weeks are in a year?
52 weeks and 1 day (or 2 days in a leap year).