Build Numbers with a Fun Place Value Activity

,Math is a series of building blocks. Each piece builds upon the the previous piece. That’s why it’s so important to understand one piece before moving on to the next piece.

Place value is one of those important pieces. It’s crucial to understand all the different parts of each number.

This place value activity is a fun hands-on and visual way for kids to learn and practice value. Understanding will soon become second nature as they build each number.

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Set up your place value activity

You’ll only need a few supplies for this activity: a pack of index cards, a few markers, and scissors.

Decide how many numbers you want to make. If you make the numbers 1-9 for each place value, your kids will be able to make every number from 1 through 9999.

To make all the numbers, leave nine index cards whole. Cut some in half, so that you have 9 half pieces. You’ll also want 9 pieces that are 3/4 sized and 9 pieces that are 1/4 size.

Write your numbers on your index cards. Make sure you write the numbers big enough so that each digit can be covered by 1/4 of the index cards.

The whole cards will be for your thousands. Write the number 1000, 2000, 3000, through 9000 on the cards.

On your 3/4-sized cards, write your hundreds from 100 – 900.

Your 1/2-sized cards are for your tens and your 1/4-sized cards are for your ones.

Build your numbers

Use your place value index cards to build new numbers.

Start with a base of one of your thousands cards. Add a hundreds card, next a tens card, and then finally a ones card. Step by step, your child will be able to see how each number fits with place value.

When you take the numbers apart, you can lay them out next to each other to see how the number is built by place value, 2000 plus 500 plus 80 plus 2 equals 2582.

The number possibilities are endless!