Suggested sequence
The concept of place value should be introduced step by step. We suggest the following sequence:
Start with concrete objects.
Move to visual aids like charts and drawings.
Gradually transition to abstract representations, like numbers and equations.
Use concrete materials
Base-Ten blocks: Use units (ones), rods (tens), and flats (hundreds) to show how numbers are built.
Place value charts: Create a simple chart with columns for "Ones," "Tens," and "Hundreds." Have students place objects or numbers in the appropriate columns.
Counting manipulatives: Use beans, straws, or buttons to group items into sets of ten and count the remainder as ones.
Make it visual
Ten frames: Use ten frames to visualize groups of tens and ones.
Number lines: Show how numbers are organized and discuss how moving up by 10 changes the place value.
Drawings: Ask students to draw pictures of objects grouped into tens and ones.
Hands-on activities
Group and bundle: Give students items to count (e.g., 20 straws). Ask them to bundle the straws into groups of 10 and explain what they have.
Dice and counters: Roll a die, collect that number of counters, and add them to a place value chart.
Games and worksheets
Place value bingo: Use cards with numbers (e.g., 23, 45) and ask students to match them with visual representations of tens and ones.
Place value puzzles: Give students puzzles where they match numbers with their expanded form (e.g., 32 = 30 + 2).
Worksheets: we have a page of place value worksheets for students to practice in our grade 1 math section. We detail those worksheets below.
Connect to real-life examples
Money: Use coins to demonstrate place value (e.g., a dime is 10 cents, pennies are ones).
Calendars and Clocks: Discuss tens and ones in days of the month or hours and minutes.
Practice with expanded form
Teach students to break numbers into parts (e.g., 47 = 40 + 7). Use visuals or manipulatives to reinforce this.
Grade 1 place value worksheets
Our grade 1 place value worksheets have students work on the base 10 number system. Students work on identifying tens and ones., rounding, building two-digit numbers, as well as working on expanded form.
Practice identifying tens and ones
Students break two-digit numbers into tens and ones in these worksheets.
Combine tens and ones worksheets
Next, they combine tens and ones to form two-digit numbers.
Identifying a digit’s place value
Students are asked to write the value of the underlined number.
Building numbers from tens and ones
Students practice adding whole tens and ones in these worksheets.
Building numbers from tens and ones with missing addends
Students work on missing addends in these addition worksheets.
Rounding to the nearest 10
Students work on rounding to the nearest 10 next.
Writing numbers in expanded form
Students practice writing two-digit numbers in expanded form in these worksheets.
Writing numbers in standard form
Students are presented with numbers in expanded form and are asked to write them in standard form.
