1st Grade Place Value

In first grade we “use” Singapore Math as our math curriculum. [please note the air quotes] In our current chapter, we are learning about numbers within 40….”40?!” you say “that’s only 1/3 of the way to 120”…I know friends. Please reference the first set of air quotes again. Therefore, we are taking the time to hit place value hard during this trip through 40. Here are some of the awesome resource and activities we have been using! Plus, grab a few freebies.

To kick-off the unit, our friends brainstormed ways to write numbers. They made an awesome list Monday and that evening I combine them into an anchor chart to display! (Inspired by Primary Punch‘s “Ways to Show a Number“)

Of course, we joined Annie and Moby for a game of place-value basketball in the Brain Pop Jr. Place Value video.

On the second day of place value, I led Place Value Bootcamp inspired by Teacher Tipster. There was chanting and repeating and talls and smalls and SO much learning. It was a hoot, our friends loved seeing me as a sergeant, it met the needs of so many of our learners, and gives students a gimmick to remember tens and ones! (UPDATE: Returning to 1st grade in 2014-2015, I led Place Value Bootcamp again. To read more about the details of Place Value Bootcamp, I’ve blogged all about it here.)

If you haven’t please, check Teacher Tipster out. He is the brains behind hundreds of hands-on and innovated lessons!

For practice in representing numbers in different ways, we also played a very adapted version of Scoot. I placed a number on the middle of each table and put the below grid in clear pockets. Students traveled from table-to-table with a dry-erase marker and a sock writing about the number. Just click on the picture to grab the recording log. (To see more about how we have practiced representing number, read this blog post.)

I’ve found with place value, students need many ways to organize their thinking. There have to be plenty of hands-on experiences. As another visual, I also made some of the Tattling to the Teacher’s Place Value Paint Chips. These were a great way to structure tens and ones (hundreds, tens, and ones for my above-level group) when practicing. During guided math, we would make a number using the paint chips, draw it on our white boards, and then, make it using tens/ones pieces.

As a part of our Guided Math block, we’ve also been slipping in some great spiral review centers! The 120’s chart is also a great tool for practicing number sense, place value, and expanded form. When students place numbers on the 120’s chart, they are learning to notice patterns on the 120s chart. Throughout the first semester, this is a continuous center in our math rotations. As students become faster in completing the chart (many times it initially takes 25-30 minutes to complete the chart, while only 10-12 minutes when they have mastered the patterns/skill). Students ‘level-up’ as they work with the chart.

Monday finished up place value and focus on expanded form. Our firsties are on struggle street with this concept. So, I made this poster and practice for students (click below to grab it. Thanks to Kevin and Amanda for the font and Amazing Documents for the frame) Then, we used Fourth and Ten’s Place Value Block as an exit slip.

Although we ran out of time, this chart by Peterson’s Pad’s Ways to Write a Number would make a great assessment or practice. It requires students to be able to go back-and-forth between base standard form, tens and ones, expanded form, and base-ten blocks!

2015 UPDATE – If you’re looking for other Place Value ideas, check out this blog post full of Guided Math mini-lessons and math center ideas!

Wow, friends! So much for a textbook learning, right?! So tell me, friends – are there any special ways you teach place value?