The Best Place Value Activities 

In this blog post, I will share the best activities to teach place value to kindergarten and first-grade students. These activities are hands-on and fun! Students will practice place value using drawings, base ten blocks, and ten frames. 

Place value is one of the most critical math units we cover in first grade and kindergarten. The way that we write numbers, add and subtract, and even compare numbers are all based on understanding place value concepts. 

Must-have Place Value item: Base Ten Blocks

These vibrant and colorful base ten blocks are a classroom staple. We use them for developing number sense and place value.

Providing students with MANY opportunities to explore place value by using drawings, diagrams, or base 10 blocks will help them visualize and make connections!

Understanding place value is not only significant; it can be fun when you incorporate hands-on activities.

Hands-on Learning Activities

During centers, we use engaging hands-on activities to help solidify our learning. Here are three activities that you can use in the classroom. 

Place Value Bingo 

When we begin learning about place value, one of the first lessons I teach is about tens and ones. We spend a lot of time on vocabulary words such as tens place, ones place, and digits. We play fun games like Place Value Bingo, where they count the ten frames and say how many tens and ones they have. They then cover the amount on their board. The first person to get three in a row wins. This activity will teach students that 10 can be thought of as a bundle of ten ones – called a “ten.”

Roll and Build

Students practice building tens and ones using base ten blocks or quick tens and ones (drawing). What I like about this center is that it’s a board game, and students can play with a partner. They practice social skills like taking turns, talking about math, and other learning behaviors. 

Tens and Ones Mat

Tens and Ones Mat can be used for students to represent numbers in more than one way. You can also easily differentiate instruction by extending or limiting the number range. For this activity, students pick a card and build the number. They can use base ten blocks or a drawing. Last, they complete the statement. 

What are some other ways you teach place value in your classroom? Let me know in the comments section below. 

Happy Teaching,

Tee