Phrase "that number" singular or plural

[alkaspeltzar]

IF anyone can help,

I know 'a number of' can be used in place of many, as a plural noun

I know 'the number of' can be used as is for just the number, the value, therefore is a singular noun.

But what about the phrase 'that number'?

There are that number of kids.
There is that number of kids.

Which one is correct and can someone please tell me why a singular noun such as (that number) take a plural if so?

Thanks in advance

[Verona_82]

We can say "there's" and stop racking our brains
It's not of any help, but at least it bumps your post.

I changed my mind several times before I decided I would go for the singular. It seems to me 'that' places some emphasis on the number itself. I understand "that numer" as "the number of kids I told you about".

[5jj]

We can say "there's" and stop racking our brains
It's not of any help, but at least it bumps your post.

Good idea.

If I had to choose, I'd go for 'there are', feeling that 'that number' stands for a number almost certainly greater than one.

However, in real life, I'd be far more likely to say, "There are that many kids/children".

[Verona_82]

I've just seen a sentence with 'majority', and it remided me of this article 'rule', which cannot be applied here.

The great majority of conversations we have are, to say the least, rather stale.

I don't think I'd ever say 'is', but, out of curiosity, is a singular verb ever possible with 'the majority of + pl noun"?