Place Value Man

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Archive : 2007 : June : 30

Place Value Man
By luvnjesus

When I taught 3rd and 4th grade and had students still struggling with the concept of Place Value, we found that it was a language problem...they didn't understand the "term"...so, we made "Place Value Man" (I know sounds
funny). We cut a "man" out of construction paper and put magnetic tape on the back. We would initially ask, "What is this?" They answer, "A man" We say "What is his value?" They say "?"... Then draw a simple scene on the board, maybe a dinner table and chairs with a wife and child (stick figures). Put place value man at the table. Again ask, "What is his 'value'?"...They say, "He

is a dad, husband, etc." Continue this with other scenes (a work scene, draw a parachute coming up from his back, anything you can think of).
Now they can make the connection that "Place" gives "Value". Then transfer to the number, place value chart, etc. and it seems to just "click". I started this when teaching struggling 4th graders. Suddenly it just made sense to them. I shared it with a 3rd grade teacher at another school, she used it and had the same result.
Just an idea. :)