7 Engaging Place Value Teaching Strategies

Hey teacher!


Teaching maths, especially concepts like place value, can sometimes feel like navigating uncharted waters. 


With the right strategies and tools at your disposal, you can make teaching place value an engaging and enjoyable experience for both you and your students.


 Let’s dive into some creative ways to bring place value to life in the classroom.

Get Hands-On with Manipulatives

Incorporating manipulatives into your lessons is a game-changer. Place value mats and base-ten blocks are fantastic tools for making abstract concepts tangible. 


By physically manipulating these objects, students can grasp the relationship between digits and their values. 


Whether it's building numbers or exploring decimals, manipulatives add a dynamic element to learning.

Visualise with Place Value Houses:

Introduce the concept of place value using visual aids like Place Value Houses. 


These pictorial representations break down the abstract nature of numbers into digestible chunks.


 By assigning each "house" a different place value, students can see how digits represent quantities based on their positions. 


This method fosters a deeper understanding of how numbers work.


Check out this super fun place value house craft here

Teach 10 as a Bundle of Ones:

Simplify the concept of place value by demonstrating that 10 consists of ten individual units. 


Utilise resources like Tens Frames to illustrate this idea visually.


 By grouping objects into sets of ten, students can grasp the foundational principle behind place value.

Daily Number Activities

Make place value a part of your daily routine with number of the day activities. 


These exercises reinforce students' understanding of place value by focusing on various aspects of a single number. 


From writing it in different forms to representing it on an abacus, these activities keep place value at the forefront of learning.

Warm-Up Routine

Establish a consistent warm-up routine to reinforce place value skills over time.


 Incorporate math talk sessions that encourage students to discuss and explore concepts collaboratively. 


By making place value a regular part of classroom discussions, you help solidify their understanding through repetition and engagement.

Utilise Number Lines

Number lines offer a visual representation of number values and aid in comparing numbers with different place values. 


Integrate number lines into your lessons to demonstrate the progression of numbers and the significance of decimal placement.

number line for teaching place value

Create Visual Displays

Enhance your classroom environment with place value posters and displays.


 These visual aids serve as constant reminders of place value principles, reinforcing learning and providing reference points for students as they navigate mathematical concepts.

Place Value Posters

Teaching place value doesn't have to be daunting. By embracing hands-on activities, visual aids, and regular practice, you can empower your students to master this fundamental mathematical skill. 


So roll up your sleeves, gather your manipulatives, and let the journey to place value proficiency begin!


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