Learning About Place Values
Hello! I am getting ready to start teaching my first math unit. I will be teaching my third graders about place values. I remember when I taught place values to my first graders when I student taught, it was a hard concept for them to understand. I came up with the idea to make note cards to help make the learning interactive and fun. It really worked so I plan on doing the same for my third graders!
The Set-up
First you need to get a set of index cards, sharpies and tape. Depending on the grade, will depend on how many index cards you need. In third grade, in the beginning, they are supposed to know up to the hundreds place. So I made my cards up to that. You will first want to make single cards and number them from 1-9. At the bottom of the cards, you want to write "ones". These cards will be in the ones place. Make sure you label these cards in sharpie.
Next, you will number cards 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. For each number you will grab two cards. On the first card, you will write all the numbers in the tens place (1-9). Underneath those numbers, you will write tens. These numbers will be in the tens place. On the other cards, you'll write 0. Underneath the 0, you'll write ones. The zero is in the ones place. Then you will flip the index cards over and tape them on the back. Make sure you label these cards in a different color sharpie.
Finally, you will number cards 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900. For each number you will grab three index cards. On the first card, you will write all the numbers in the hundreds place (1-9). Underneath those numbers, you will write hundreds. These numbers will be in the hundreds place. On the second cards, you'll write 0. Underneath the 0, you'll write tens. The zero is in the tens place. The last set of cards, you will write 0. Underneath this zero, you'll write ones. This zero will be in the ones place. Then you will flip the index cards over and tape them on the back. Make sure you label these cards in a different color sharpie.
Utilize in the Classroom
Now that you have your cards set-up, you can start teaching with them! These are awesome with teaching math concepts and getting students to understand what each place value actually means.
I am going to start my lesson by holding up one of the single digit cards.
I am going to ask my students what the number 8 really represents. You want your students to understand that the 8 represents 8 ones. I will draw 8 ones on the board, count them, and them show how it equals 8. You can also use ten blocks and ones cubes. I will repeat this with a couple more cards
Next, I will hold up a 2 digit card.
I will ask my students what the number 90 really means. I will point out how there are zero ones in the ones place. And 9 tens in the tens place. I will then use the terminology that the number in the tens place shows you how many groups of ten there are. So in the number 90, there are 9 groups of ten. I will then draw 9 tens on the board, add them together, and show how it equals 90. You can also use ten blocks and ones cubes. I will repeat this with a couple more cards
Finally, I will hold up a 3 digit card.
The beauty of these cards, are that you can lay these numbers on top of each other. They are all labeled with what place value is shown. Take the number 575
You can lay down the 500, then 70, and then 5. You can then ask students how many ones are in the fives place. You can hold up the five if need me to add an extra visual. Then ask students what the five means. It means there 5 ones in the ones place. You can ask the students how many tens are in the tens place. You can hold up the 70 card. Students will see that there are 7 tens. That means there are 7 groups of tens. You can ask how many one hundreds are in the hundreds place. You can hold up the 500 card. Students will see there are 5 one hundreds in the hundreds place. That means there are 5 groups of one hundreds.
Expanded Notation
You can also show expanded notation visually with these cards
If you take the number 454, you can lay the cards out so students can see you are adding 400 + 50 + 4. You can do this with all numbers 1-999 with these cards!
Student Involvement
I plan to have students on the carpet with dry erase boards and markers when I teach this lesson. They will be writing everything I write on the board, on their boards. If I show the number 70, I plan on having them show me by writing out what the number 70 really means. Which is 7 groups of ten. They will write out 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 70.
Students can also pick out three cards for you to dissect and break apart. They can choose a card from the ones, tens, and hundreds pile. Make a number and then break apart what that number really means.
You can also give each student hundreds, tens and ones blocks. They can model what number you show.
Extra Information
I also laminate these cards so I can reuse them. You can also have these cards at a math center for students to practice with.
In Conclusion
I really hope you love this helpful tip on how to make teaching place values interactive and fun! My first graders loved this and I hope my third graders love it too. If you choose to make these cards, let me know how your students like them in the comment section below!
