Place Value and Ways to Write a Number

Last week our class focused on place value and different ways to write a number. After doing a mimio lesson and some workbook pages we then read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs By Jon Scieszka. Students worked in groups to make their own houses using base ten blocks, and then on their own. We used the 3D blocks, but paper would work fine as well. Once they made their houses, they were instructed to trace the blocks on construction paper and figure out how much their house was worth. Here are some pictures of what they came up with:

I thought this one turned out cute, but she explained that she didn't count the windows and door as part of her base ten house which made more sense!

Another interesting take on a house. The student had mentioned that the party would be happening upstairs in what looks like the roof! Too cute!

After finishing up that Project we moved forward on different ways to write a number. Some of my colleagues and I use an apple that we created to show all the different ways. First though, we did and example up on the board:

Then we gave students a template and allowed them to choose their own number to represent in each part of the apple.

This one was my example, but the students really loved making their own. When they finished cutting out the apple, they had to trade it with someone to put their apple "puzzle" back together. It was after they tried a few different ones that we glued them down on construction paper.

You can get your own template of the apple by clicking here: Apple Template

And the finished product of a few of my colleagues and I:

Don't forget to get a copy of your own apple template above! What do you do to teach place value?