How to teach place value
Grade 1 to Grade 5
Place value is the idea that a digit's value depends on its position. It underpins all multi-digit arithmetic.
How to teach it
- Use base-ten blocks to build numbers.
- Practise the value of each digit (the 7 in 472 is 70).
- Expand numbers (472 = 400 + 70 + 2).
- Compare and order numbers using place value.
Common mistakes
- Reading digits without regard to position.
- Misplacing zeros as placeholders.
- Struggling to compare numbers of different lengths.
Practise with free worksheets
Printable worksheets with answer keys that are never wrong.