Place Value
(Draft)
by Hulan E. Jack Jr.
Here is a method to help children and, anyone else, to understand place value. The method is
designed to produce a relaxed, nonthreatening, and fun environment for learning. As much research has
indicated, this is the best environment for learning. The method takes advantage of the three learning
modalities, Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic (VAK). It involves several of the intelligence, especially
the visual/spacial, kinesthetic, linguistic as well as the expected logical-mathematical. When played as a
game, it also involves the interpersonal and intra personal intelligences. The game situation often
provides the the most stimulating, least threatening and most fun environment.
The activity consists of the student(s) making a Place Value strip and numeral cards, cards with
numerals 0 to 9. A numeral card is tossed onto the Place Value strip and the numeral with its place
value name are said out loud.
MILLION HUNDRED
1,000,000
THOUSAND
,
TEN
THOUSAND
THOUSAND
1,000
100,000 10,000
HUNDRED
TENS
UNITS
100
10
0
,
DECIMAL
POINT
4
Figure 1
Figure 1 shows the numeral card “4" in the HUNDRED box of a Place Value strip setup for dealing
with Units through Millions. So the “ Four Hundred” is the answer.
This is best played as a game. At home the players can be student and a parent, siblings, the
whole family . In school the players can be groups of up to about 5 students. When the numeral card
lands on the Place Value strip, whoever calls out the right answer first gets, say, five points. At home,
the game between student and parent can stimulate the student to try to beat the parent.
Once place value has been mastered using one numeral card, then it is time advance to using
two numeral cards. Figure 2 shows the situation for “8 HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 4
HUNDRED”.
MILLION HUNDRED
THOUSAND
,
TEN
THOUSAND
1,000,000 100,000 10,000
8
THOUSAND
1,000
HUNDRED
,
100
TENS
UNITS
10
0
DECIMAL
POINT
4
Figure 2
©2000 Hulan E. Jack Jr.
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Next advance to using three numeral cards at a time, then four numeral cards, and so on.
The student starts by making all of the items used. The following raw materials are required.
Required Raw Materials :
Sheets of 81/2 “x11" or 8"x10" lined paper.
Cardboard or construction paper
Tape
Crayons and/or markers
Scissors
There are two items to be made. One is a Place Value strip. The second is a set of square numeral
cards.
Step 1
Make the Place Value strip
OPEN AND MARK FOLD LINE
WITH A CRAYON OR MARKER
TO DIVIDE SHEET IN HALF
FOLD IN HALF
11”
8 1/2”
Figure 3
FOLD LINE
TAPE
FOLD LINE
TAPE
FOLD LINE
TAPE
TURN OVER
AND TAPE
SHEETS
TOGETHER
Figure 4
FOLD LINE
.
For this the student takes four sheets of 81/2"x11" or 8"x10" sheets of paper. Fold and mark
the fold line as show in Figure 3.
TO MARKED
SIDE
M A RK E D
FO L D L I N E
Next, the student turns the sheets over and tape them together as form a strip as shown in
Figure 4. The sheets are shown slightly out of alignment to indicate that this is not a serious
issue. Sometimes people place too much emphasis on, or even get up tight about, about
something like this
TURN TAPED
when it is on little real
importance.
STRIP OVER
Figure 5
©2000 Hulan E. Jack Jr.
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Now the student turns the strip over to the side with the marked fold lines as shown in Figure 5.
DECIMAL
POINT
Figure 6
The student starts by placing the decimal point in its desired position. This defines the range of
numbers sizes we plan to study. Then the student writes in the words “DECIMAL POINT”
while saying it out loud.
Next, the students write the word “UNITS” and the numeral “0" in the box to the left of the
decimal point box while saying “UNITS” and “ZERO” while writing.
UNITS
0
DECIMAL
POINT
Figure 7
The student continues filling in the boxes moving away from the decimal point. TENS,
HUNDRED, THOUSAND, in order. The student says each while writing. Add in the comma
to make reading the place value easier.
MILLION HUNDRED
THOUSAND
,
TEN
THOUSAND
1,000,000 100,000 10,000
THOUSAND
1,000
HUNDRED
TENS
UNITS
100
10
0
,
DECIMAL
POINT
Figure 8
©2000 Hulan E. Jack Jr.
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Step 2
Make Numeral squares from cardboard
Using cardboard or heavy construction paper, cut out 50 to 60 squares that are about 2"x2" to
3"x3". They do not have to be perfect squares. Mark each with a single numeral from 0 to 9. This will
give five to six squares with each numeral.
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
5
5
5
9
8
6
7
8
9
6
7
8
9
6
7
8
9
Figure 9
©2000 Hulan E. Jack Jr.
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