place value

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Archive : 2001 : August : 19

place value
By Jessica

Hi,
I just taught place value to 5th graders of all abilities last week. I drew a chart on the board. We talked about place value for a while and then filled the chart in together, from ones to hundred millions. The
kids noticed that the "ones,tens,and hundreds" place always repeated. We began chanting "ones,tens,hundreds,ones,tens,hundreds...." over and over again. I got so tickled because some of the students were moving their bodies in their seat as if it were their favorite song.
After it was APPARENT that they had "accidentally" memorized those places, I told them that they were 1/2 way there.

The only thing left to do was decide what "section" the ones,tens,hundreds were in (either thousands or millions). Through investigation and silly ways we created a very simple way of remembering each place. It was evident that they were enjoying themselves as well as proud of themselves. In a journal, I had each child reflect on the lesson...most of them said that they never understood place value or didn't "get it" the year before. It was great. Silly idea, but it actually worked!!