Place value is the term we use when discussing how numbers, when arranged in various ways, can create different amounts.
Before moving on to other skills, this mathematical concept needs appropriate mastery. Students that are unable to grasp place value will struggle with the four basic mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication), have poor number sense, will be incapable of estimating and will not be able to recognise that the value of a digit depends on its position in a number. All of these are necessary skills students need outside of the classroom. Recognising that numbers can be broken apart, rearranged, and re-formed, will help students have a greater awareness of how the above-mentioned concepts work.
Students need to develop an authentic understanding of place value through consistent exposure.
Here are a few math center activities that are great for learning about place value:
IDENTIFYING THE PLACE OF A DIGIT IN MULTI-DIGIT NUMBERS
Students will use their analytical skills and knowledge of place value to determine the place (position) of one specific digit within a multi-digit number. Students investigate each number. In each question, they will decide on the place of the underlined digit (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands). The activity requires them to cut and paste the corresponding place (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands) from below the dotted line into each empty box to complete the question.
CONVERTING BETWEEN PLACE VALUES
Decomposing numbers is an essential skill that needs appropriate mastery before tackling addition and subtraction. Every figure can be broken down into parts. By breaking down multi-digit numbers by their place values, students develop an understanding of what numbers are composed of.
The above worksheets and exits tickets are helpful for students when they are learning how to convert between place values. The activities allow learners to practice converting between ones and tens, hundreds, and thousands.
COMPARING NUMBERS
Another important principle to learn before adding and subtracting is the concepts of “greater than,” “less than,” and “equal to.” Comparing numbers can be linked to a lot of relevant life skills. One being, how to compare the price of two products. Students can make appropriate purchasing decisions when it’s visible that one amount is cheaper than the other. For example, some students may become confused and conclude that $91 is less than $19 because they determine the value by looking at the number in the ones place first.
Develop your students understanding of place value with these two activities. In this hands-on activity, students use their analytical skills to compare numbers (2 digits, 3 digits, 4 digits, 5 digits & 6 digits). Each challenge card displays two numbers. In small groups, students will work out if the comparison symbol (greater than, less than or equal to) between both numbers is correct or not. If they believe it to be correct, they will place this under the heading – true. If they believe it is incorrect, they will move this under the heading – false.
For a more rote practice activity, students can try out the comparing numbers worksheets.
Now for the more challenging place value activities!
ROUNDING NUMBERS
The next step is for students to learn about rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand and ten thousand. Rounding prepares students to master estimation.
Using their knowledge of place value, students will practice rounding to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand with these differentiated task cards.
ADDING & SUBTRACTING USING PLACE VALUE
Hopefully, the above activities have helped develop an understanding of place value. Now it’s time to move into more challenging mathematical concepts. Students will apply their knowledge of place value and the properties of addition and subtraction to complete standard algorithms in these worksheets.
Students will use their analytical skills to answer two-digit/three-digit/multi-digit problems involving addition and subtraction. Some of these activities will also require regrouping. Lines within each question separate the ones, tens and hundreds to facilitate student learning of place value. Accuracy and building fluency is the overall aim of these activity sheets.
I hope the above resources help your students with their understanding of place value; I’d love to hear any feedback you have on them. What activities have you done in the classroom to practice place value? Leave your ideas in the comments below!
