Place Value (Tens and Units)

Vocabulary

number

digit

tens, ones, units

one-digit, two-digit

first digit, second digit

place, place value

Hints and Tips

Please see the Place Value 1 and Place Value 2.

Place value is one of the most important principles of number work in mathematics.

In order to understand our number system, your child must be taught that the same digit can mean different things, for example, the symbol 5 can mean 5 ones, or 5 tens or 5 millions.

The idea that one ten is the same as ten ones needs to be introduced carefully, as does the idea that the two in twenty represents two tens or twenty ones.

You must be careful to make sure this concept is really understood by your child and not be too quick to accept he/she has fully understood.

Just because your child can say and write 36, it doesn’t mean they understand the value of the digits in the number.

Essential Prior Knowledge

Know that all our numbers are made up of the digits 0 to 9.

Know that 9 is the highest number that goes in any column in our number system.

Activity

Your child could create a bead string with two different colour beads.

Thread 10 of one colour and 10 of the other followed by 10 of the first colour etc until you have 100 beads

This would reinforce the grouping of 10s.

Give your child a 2-digit number and ask him/her to count to that number using the bead string.

Encourage your child to use the different coloured beads to count in 10s and then count on in 1s to complete the count.

With your child, create some bundles of 10 straws held together with elastic bands. Have 9 bundles and 10 single straws (100 straws).

Draw a Place Value chart and when your child has made some numbers ask him/her to put the bundles and single straws in the correct column to make the number.
 

Ask your child to roll a die and pick up the number of single straws indicated by the die and put them in the ones column. Keep rolling the die and picking up single straws and placing them until the total exceeds 9. Explain to your child that only ones can go in the ones column and ten must go in the tens column. Exchange 10 single straws for 1 bundle of 10 straws and place this bundle in the tens