Introducing Place Value
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3•
The value of the places increases to the left by
Introducing place value
a factor of 10 and decreases to the right by a
factor of 10.
Place Value progression, 2nd and 3rd step
•
The pattern of ones, tens, hundreds repeats for
thousands and millions, and recognising this
The purpose of this activity
pattern helps with reading large numbers.
In this activity, the learners develop the
understanding that our number system is based
MILLIONS
THOUSANDS
ONES
on the number 10. The place of a digit in a number
100s
10s
1s
100s
10s
1s
100s
10s
1s
indicates the size of that digit and the places
increase by a factor of 10 as you move to the left and
•
One billion is used to describe both one
decrease by a factor of 10 as you move to the right.
thousand million (1,000,000,000, 1 x 10
9
,
The teaching points
United States of America) and one million
million (1,000,000,000,000, 1 x 10
, United
12
•
There is a system to our numbers that the
Kingdom). Increasingly, the meaning of one
learners need to understand. This system
billion as one thousand million is used in
developed over time, and there are other number
English-speaking countries.
systems. A few interesting facts are as follows:
Resources
-
The first number system developed in
Mesopotamia (now Iraq) approximately
•
Calculators.
4,800 years ago, based on 60. Our system
The guided teaching and learning sequence
of measuring time comes directly from that
1. Write 44 on the board and ask the learners
number system.
whether both fours mean the same thing.
-
Not all number systems are place value
Listen for the response that one 4 means
systems. In the Roman number system, a
4 ones and the other 4 means 4 tens. Ask
number is often the first letter of the word it
whether the learners agree that the place of
represents – some learners may be familiar
the 4 indicates its value and reinforce that, in
with Roman numerals.
44, the bold 4 indicates 4 ones and the 4 on its
left indicates 4 tens.
-
Base ten systems developed independently
in China and India.
2. Write 444 on the board and ask the learners
what the new four represents?
-
Our current system travelled from India
through Arabia to Europe, arriving in Europe
3. Draw a three-column place-value chart on
in the thirteenth century.
the board and ask the learners what the
relationship is between the value of the three
•
The system we use is based on 10 and
places: ones, tens, hundreds.
developed because we have 10 fingers. It
requires the use of the digit 0 as a place holder.
HUNDREDS
TENS
ONES
Once ten objects have been counted, a place
holder is used to indicate the number of groups
4
4
4
of ten (10). Once ten groups of 10 have been
Listen for and reinforce the response that each
counted, a second place holder is used to
place increases by a factor of 10 as you move to
indicate the number of groups of 10 tens
the left.
(hundreds) (100), and so on.
continued...
Tertiary Education Commission Teaching Adults to Make Sense of Number to Solve Problems: Using the Learning Progressions
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Education