Subject Area: Math Place Values
Strategy: Place Value Concepts
Appropriate Grade Level: Elementary 1– 4 Grade
Procedures/Steps:
The student is asked to demonstrate their understanding of a three digit number by using
blocks.
1. Provide the student with bocks that represent 1’s, 5’s, 10’s, and 100’s
2. Give the student a specific number
3. Have the student use the blocks to represent this number
4. Now, have the student use a different combination of these blocks to represent the
same number.
5. Ask the following questions depending on the students’ goals, or lesson objectives:
• “Can you think of another way to show the number ___?”
• “How many different ways are there to represent ___ using only these blocks?”
• “What would the number be if we added____ number or blocks?”
• “What would the number be if we took away _____ number of blocks?”
For example: The blocks to the below represent
the value of 24.
Hundred’s Value
Thousands Value
One’s Value
Ten’s Value
Comments and/or tips:
™ Pre-assess your student to be sure that pre-requisite math and counting skills exists.
For instance, the student must understand the concept of “value places.”
™ An example of a challenge question for step 5 would be:
• “What number would be _(2)_ 100’s blocks, _(3)_ 10’s blocks, & _(1)_ 1’s blocks
represent?” (Student would respond: 231)
Source:
Schmidt, M.E., (1995). Mathematics intervention: Second grade place value concepts.
Education, 116(2), 229-243.dio: 9341300