“You can call me Sergeant, Cadet” {Place Value}

So, in first grade we “use” Singapore Math as our math curriculum. [please note the air quotes] In our current chapter, we are learning about numbers within 40….”40?!” you say “that’s only 1/3 of the way to 120”…I know friends. Please reference the first set of air quotes again. Therefore, we are taking the time to hit place value hard during this trip through 40.  Here are some of the awesome resource and activities we have been using! Plus, grab a few freebies.

To kick-off the unit, our friends brainstormed ways to write numbers. They made an awesome list Monday and that evening I combine them into an anchor chart to display! (Inspired by Primary Punch's "Ways to Show a Number")

Of course, we joined Annie and Moby for a game of place-value basketball in the Brain Pop Jr. Place Value video.

On the second day of place value, I led Place Value Bootcamp inspired by Teacher Tipster. There was chanting and repeating and talls and smalls and SO much learning. It was a hoot, our friends loved seeing me as a sergeant, it met the needs of so many of our learners, and gives students a gimmick to remember tens and ones! If you haven’t please, check Teacher Tipster out.

We also played a very adapted version of Scoot. I placed a number on the middle of each table and put the below grid in clear pockets. Students traveled from table-to-table with a dry-erase marker and a sock writing about the number. Quite honestly, we kind of played Scoot and I still have no idea how to play Scoot. This is still a game very beyond my teaching abilities..haha. Guess I need to see it in person J Just click on the picture to grab the recording log.

For another visual for students, I also made some of the Tattling to the Teacher’s Place Value Paint Chips. I am not quite sure if or when they will get used, but possibly in a future center. We’ll see J

Monday we’ll finished up (hopefully) place value and focus on expanded form. Our firsties are on struggle street with this concept. So, I made this poster and practice for students (click below to grab it. Thanks to Kevin and Amanda for the font and Amazing Documents for the frame) Then, we’ll use Fourth and Ten’s Place Value Block as an exit slip. When we’ve finished with our houses and have them ordered (Tuesday’s task), I’ll post pictures. They’re super cute!

Although we ran out of time, this chart by Peterson’s Pad’s Ways to Write a Number would make a great assessment or practice. It requires students to be able to go back-and-forth between base standard form, tens and ones, expanded form, and base-ten blocks!

Wow! So much for a textbook learning J Any special ways you teach place value?