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This version for 3- and 4-digit numbers is designed for 2nd grade, which is when students are really beginning to form their understandings about our place value structure. Because of that, I highly recommend that students use base-10 blocks to model the numbers as they build them, as you see pictured above. Using the manipulatives helps students develop a deeper understanding, because they not only see the digit, for example a 5 in the tens place, but they also see the value, 50. Using ten-sided dice with the digits 0-9 allow for a greater range of numbers and also throws a zero into the mix. For the older kiddos, you can grab a version for 6 and 9 digits here.
As with any game, the best way to introduce this to students is through small group instruction, allowing you to model the types of conversations you want students to have when they play the game independently. It’s important that students use place value language to justify their comparison. For example, “653 is greater than 498, because I have 6 hundreds and you only have 4 hundreds.”
Grab the place value mat here and the recording sheet here.
Enjoy!
Hi Donna. I am trying to open the place value mat and recording sheet links and they won’t open. Could you please send them to me? I would love to use this with my 2nd graders this year. Thanks,
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