Place Value Primer

I am embarrassed to say that I did not understand Place Value until I had to teach it. I could go through all the steps and find the correct answers, but the meaning behind it? I had no idea. I think that is part of the problem with the way math “used to be” taught, and thankfully, for children today, that has changed. Now that I understand place value, it is one of my favorite math concepts to teach.

Place Value Refresher

For those of you who are not sure (as I was) or who would like a refresher, here it goes.

What is Place Value?

In our decimal number system, the value of each digit depends on its place or position in the number. Each place is worth 10 times the place to its right.

What the heck does that mean?

Basically, it means that each digit in a number has a value based on its position in the number.

So let’s take the number 8,426,431

the 1 is in the ones place and has a value of 1
the 3 is in the tens place and has a value of 30
the 4 is in the hundreds place and has a value of 400
the 6 is in the thousands place and has a value of 3,000
the 2 is in the ten thousands place and has a value of 20,000
the 4 is in the hundred thousands place and has a value of 400,000
the 8 is in the millions place and has a value of 8,000,000

Got that? Great!

There are many different ways to teach place value to children. The first and best way is to teach them using “base ten blocks,” which you will see in almost every classroom. The blocks come in ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands (sorry, no image for thousands).

Students learn how to “make numbers” using these blocks. When making these numbers, they are learning about the value of each digit in each number and the value of the whole number.

Understanding this concept helps prepare students for adding and subtracting numbers, especially numbers with more than one digit. Take this math problem, for example. The number 124 is created on top (from left to right). The number 242 is just below. The answer 366 is below the line. This is how students first learn to add multi-digit numbers. And it goes on from here. Students learn that when there are 10 or more ones in the ones column, they have to trade ten of those ones for a ten, and the same goes for 10 or more 10s for hundreds. While doing this, students are learning how to “carry” (old term) or “trade” or “regroup” (current term). This works the opposite way for subtraction.

124 + 242 = 366

Boy Mama Teacher Mama | Place Value Primer

Place Value Blocks

Where can I get base ten blocks?

There are many sources that sell Base Ten Blocks, but they often come in large quantities for classrooms and can be costly. But don’t fret! Here are some ways you can MAKE your own.

Sugar Cube Base Ten Blocks: Use sugar cubes and glue to create the blocks.
Play Blocks Base Ten Blocks: If you have a big set of wooden blocks, you can use them to create your own Base Ten set.
Straws Bundles: The sets don’t have to be made from square cubes- although I highly recommend them for the younger children. Cut a straw into smaller pieces for ones; bundle 10 straws with a rubber band for tens; and bundle 10 bundles of tens for hundreds. You can use toothpicks, Q-tips, or any other item you can bundle.
Paper “Blocks”: Use the templates below. Print them on heavy paper for easier manipulation and durability.

Now that you know about Place Value and you have some manipulatives, here are a few simple games you can play with your child.

You will need: a PLACE VALUE MAT, NUMBER CARDS (see below), and BASE TEN BLOCKS (see above) for these games.

Click the images to download and print.

Place Value Games

Blocks to Number Game

Using base ten blocks, place “some” (your choice, but fewer than 10) blocks in each column. Use the number cards to create the number using numerals, then read the number.

For example, below we place 6 ones in the ones column, 4 tens in the tens column, and 1 hundred in the hundreds column. Then, using the number cards, we put the numeral six below the 6 ones, the numeral 4 below the tens, and the numeral 1 below the hundreds.

We are then able to “see” and read the number 146.

Boy Mama Teacher Mama Place Value Primer Game

Numbers to Blocks Game

Provide a number, then make it using base-ten blocks using the same process as above.

Number to Blocks and Blocks to Numbers with Dice

Play both the games above the same way, only this time, roll a die to see how many blocks to put in each place.

For example, roll #1 is 4– put 4 ones in the ones column; roll #2 is 5, put 5 tens in the tens column, and roll #3 is 2, put 2 hundreds in the hundreds column.

The number created? 254