Place Value is a Key Concept in Understanding Numbers Greater Than 10

Once children have mastered bundling sticks they are introduced to Base 10 Materials called MAB Blocks which help to show children that 10 ones make 1 Ten

10 Tens make 1 Hundred and

10 Hundreds make 1 Thousand

(the later 2 however are introduced in later grades)

MAB Blocks are a commonly used resource in number learning. Children can use them to help with reading numbers, reinforce the language and help with addition and subtraction computations.

MAB Blocks are often used with a place value chart. This chart allows children to use the blocks and write the numbers. The place value chart is a very visual representation of the value of numbers. You can actually see the number in the column of their value.

As a teacher I copied the place value chart onto an A3 size paper and laminated so children could write on them using whiteboard markers.

For a copy of the place value chart template, click on the link below and print out a copy for your child. You can use it with them to help them see and understand place value.
Place Value Chart Tens and Ones template (this file is in PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat to open.)
Place Value Chart - Hundreds, Tens and Ones Template
Here are a few examples of how you can use the place value with your child.

Here children can see both number and a visual representation of the number 72. There are 7 tens (7 groups of ten) and 2 ones.

Here you can see the number 364. That is there are 3 hundreds (3 groups of 1 hundred or 30 groups of tens), 6 tens (7 groups of ten) and 4 ones.

Having a good understanding of place value allows children to understand further concepts to do with number, such as renaming, comparing, ordering and sequencing.

Renaming: refers to being able to see a number in different ways.

For example 45 is 4 tens and 5 ones BUT it can also been seen as 45 ones.

382 is 3 hundreds, 8 tens and 2 ones BUT can also be seen as 38 tens and 2 ones or 3 hundreds and 82 ones or 382 ones.

This can be a tricky concept to learn. To understand better use the place value chart - write on a number - now as you read it cover up the words at the top one at a time and read the number. Look at these examples:

But as learning of computation develops, children will need to be able to rename numbers in further ways. Such as-: 45 can be seen as 3 tens and 15 ones or 382 can be seen as 2 hundreds, 18 tens and 2 ones

Comparing: place value is important when comparing numbers. In order to compare one number to another, a child must understand the place values of each number.

In both examples the child must understand which tens is greater: In 65 & 56 - a child must be able to see that 6 tens is greater than 5 tens In 46 & 43 - a child can see the tens are the same but then must be able compare the ones digits.

Same goes for all numbers - children must always compare the highest number first (that is the hundreds column if it is the highest) and then move towards the ones digits.

Sequencing: sequencing numbers requires children to put numbers in order - either from lowest to highest or highest to lowest.

For example: Counting in tens in 3 digit numbers: 206, 216, 226, 236 etc - knowing the tens place allows it.

Sequencing numbers needs a child to be able to see the place value either going forward or going backwards.

Place Value is an important concept, particularly when developing the two digit numbers and greater. Two digit and greater numbers include some areas that are often tricky and confusing for young children - particularly teen numbers and numbers containing zeros.

Numbers with zeros in them prove to be tricky. When a child says the number there is no real number sound that lets them know it is a zero. For example 706 - when we say it, it reads seven hundred and six. Therefore a child might write 7006 or 76 because there is no mention of any tens.

When learning the multiples of ten (10, 20, 30, 40, etc) it is important to use materials and a place value chart. The child needs to understand that a zero is written in the ones place because there are no ones.

Teen numbers can also be confusing, as we say them differently to the way they are written. Some children often in the early years of learning, will write 41 for fourteen (14) as the four is said first. It is therefore important for an understanding of place value, to show that there is one ten and four ones.

As you can see place value is an important part in the foundation of math. Children need this understanding to move into computation, decimal fractions and further number learning.

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