Place value activity

Place value is one of the things that many children struggle with in maths.  I found that when my students were moving between Stage 5 and Stage 6 they got confused with the bigger numbers, particularly when it came to adding them up.
I used the place value houses frequently, and students got good at reading big numbers and writing big numbers, but applying this to a strategy was a whole new ball-game for those who were not secure.

I found the answer in an unusual place - coloured plastic shot-glasses!

The shot-glasses have digits on, and the correct number of beads in them.

Use the colours to reinforce the place value - hundreds are orange regardless of which house they're in.

The students start by setting up each number from their sum (one near the top of the house, and the other near the bottom of the house) so that all they're concentrating on at first is reading and interpreting the digits.

Then they tip the beads out - keeping them in the correct column in the place value house.  Move the shot-glasses out of the way and put the beads together.

This is where the next discussion takes place, especially if there are more than 9 beads in a column.

The last step is to read the new number, and then to write it down.