Activity
Play Cards for Place Value
Is your child struggling to remember the rules of place value? If the ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands place doesn't ring a bell, it might be time for a little review. Here's a fun series of hands-on activities to help your child put the value in place value!
What You Need:
- 2 sets of number cards, made by writing the numbers 1–9 on the blank sides of index cards, one number per card
What You Do:
- Hand the number cards to your child. Starting with just a two-digit number, announce a number and ask your child to make the number with the cards, then say the number aloud. (For example, if you announced "fifty-one", they'd take out a card with the number five and another with the number one.) Then, have your child tell you what number is in each place and the value of that number (For example, if the number is 75, there is a 7 in the tens place and the value of that number is 7 tens or 70). Keep dictating numbers, but each time increase the number of digits. Start with a two-digit number, increase it to a three-digit number, and so on, until you get to the millions place. For each round of the game, be sure to ask your child to say the number aloud after they make it with the number cards. Once they've gotten a bunch of practice, turn the tables. Have them dictate numbers to you!
- Tell your child to make the largest and the smallest two-digit, three-digit, four-digit, five-digit, six-digit and seven-digit number they can.
- Dictate a number. Have your child set up the cards to show that number. Then, tell your child to increase or decrease the number by different values. For example, if you dictate the number 2,345, ask them to increase the number by 1,000. They should replace the 2 with a 3, making the new number 3,345. Reverse roles with your child.
- Come up with a place value riddle for your child to figure out. Give clues to help them guess the number you have in mind. For example: “I am a four-digit number. I have a 2 in my hundreds place, no value in my tens place, and an 8 in my ones place. If the sum of my number’s digits is 17, what’s my number?" (answer: 7,208) Now, have your child write or dictate their own place value riddle for you to figure out!
Related learning resources
The Place Value Game
Activity
The Place Value Game
Use a deck of playing cards to practice place value and other math concepts with your upper elementary child!
2nd grade
Math
Activity
Place Value & Expanded Form
Worksheet
Place Value & Expanded Form
Help your child develop their place value superpower with this practice sheet!
3rd grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value Scramble
Worksheet
Place Value Scramble
In this place value worksheet, learners will use a number bank to solve seven number-building challenges.
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value Practice: Part II
Worksheet
Place Value Practice: Part II
Kids compare numbers in this place value worksheet.
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value Riddles
Worksheet
Place Value Riddles
This worksheet has three place value riddles, and we bet your child will love the challenge of finding their solutions.
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value to the Thousands
Worksheet
Place Value to the Thousands
Fourth graders work on their place value and number sense skills through 15 practice problems in this math worksheet.
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value and Multiplicative Comparisons
Exercise
Place Value and Multiplicative Comparisons
Translate word problems into their numeric equivalent with this exercise that teaches both place value and multiplicative comparisons.
4th grade
Math
Exercise
Place Value Number Challenge
Worksheet
Place Value Number Challenge
This place value challenge is perfect for those looking for a creative math activity that kids will enjoy!
3rd grade
Math
Worksheet
Math Review Part 1: Place Value and Rounding
Worksheet
Math Review Part 1: Place Value and Rounding
Have students demonstrate their understanding of place value and rounding!
4th grade
Math
Worksheet
Place Value Up to Ten Thousands Place
Exercise
Place Value Up to Ten Thousands Place
Build students’ confidence in solving math problems with large numbers using this exercise on place values up to the ten thousands place.
4th grade
Math
Exercise
Place Value and the Thousands Place
Exercise
Place Value and the Thousands Place
Before students can soar in math, they’ll first need to learn how to find the thousands place in this exercise.
4th grade
Math
Exercise
Place Value Up to Hundred Thousands Place
Exercise
Place Value Up to Hundred Thousands Place
Students working with larger numbers will appreciate this exercise that helps them keep numbers straight all the way up to the hundred thousands place.
4th grade
Math
Exercise
See this activity in a set:
Get Down With Decimals