Place Value Choice Board and ‘I Can’ Cards

PLACE VALUE CHOICE BOARD

Written by Donna Boucher

Donna has been a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she shares her love for math with a worldwide audience through her website, Math Coach’s Corner. Donna is also the co-author of Guided Math Workshop.

Working with large numbers really needn’t be difficult for students. It’s all about patterns! You can read more about that here. Once students understand the structure of our number system, it just takes practice reading, writing, and comparing increasingly larger numbers. Today I have a freebie that can be used in a variety of ways and is easily differentiated. The resource consists of place value charts, 3-digit number cards, a Think-Tac-Toe place value choice board, and a set of I Can cards for workstations. The structure of the PV mat and number cards emphasize the concept that the largest number you ever have to read is a 3-digit number.

Here are some suggestions for using the materials:

  • Students can put all or some of the 3-digit cards in order.
  • Students can use the place value mats and cards to build 6-, 9-, and 12-digit numbers and read them aloud.
  • A pair of students can use two mats, build numbers, and compare them.
  • Use the “I Can” cards in a workstation. Three versions of each card are included—for 6-, 9-, and 12-digit numbers—so it’s easy to differentiate!
  • Some of the same activities from the I Can cards are included in a tiered place value choice board. One way to use the board is to have each student do either a row or a diagonal. Notice that using rows and diagonals, the activities are differentiated. The middle row is best for students who are still developing their learning.
    place value choice board

Ready to go? Grab your FREEBIE here!

30 Comments

  1. Beverley Baird

    Thanks once again for a very useful item!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You are so welcome, Beverly!

      Reply
  2. Christina-tina-tina

    Love this! I can’t wait to use it with my 4th graders.

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Great, Christina! I’m sure they’ll love it.

      Reply
  3. Tina Walker

    Love this!!! Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re welcome, Tina!

      Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Molly! The tic tac toe is a fun way to differentiate!

      Reply
  4. Dora Alvarez-Roa

    Thank you so much- place value is such a hard concept to teach and this freebie is great!!!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re welcome, Dora! Yes, place value can be tricky. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  5. Anonymous

    I just returned to teaching fourth grade after being in second. I can’t wait to do these activities with my kids! Thanks so much! Great freebie!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Oh, that will be a fun transition! Good luck with the new school year.

      Reply
  6. Mrs. Burger

    Thanks for the freebie. I am doing place value next week. Just started following your blog. Check my blog out if your 5th grade teachers need some online game links for math standards. Thanks~!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Your blog is very well organized! Lots of great links. I’m a follower now. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Anonymous

    This is such a great activity! I teach 3rd grade, and I notice every year that my students do not have a strong number sense…. they know what 5×5 is, but they don’t know WHY! So frustrating! I’m definitely using this activity throughout the year to keep place value on the front burner!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Perfect! They need that strong foundation in place value. The 4th grade teachers will love you!!

      Reply
  8. KRISTA

    Thanks so much! This is fabulous! I am a new follower of your store and your blog. Have a great week!

    I hope you can stop by sometime.

    Krista
    stellar-students

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Hey Krista! Thanks for leaving some love. I just popped over to your place, and I love your blog. Really like the post about interactive math journals!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer Smith-Sloane

    I just wanted to share with you that I used this game in class today to review place value with my 8th Grade Resource Math class as a workstation and will use it again tomorrow with my 7th Grade Resource Math class. I’ve posted pictures on my blog as well as linked back to this post.

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      OMGosh, Jennifer, that is so cool. I need the link!!

      Reply
  10. MrsArnold

    This is going to be VERY popular in my classroom. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re so welcome!!

      Reply
  11. Anonymous

    thanks for sharing..

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  12. Ms. Young in 2nd

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  13. Ms. Young in 2nd

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    Love your blog!

    Reply
  15. john oberman

    thanks for wonderful ideas.

    Reply
  16. Stephanie Volkland

    The link isn’t taking me to the place value product. Is it still available somewhere?

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Should be fixed now. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

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