Is it possible to make place value fun in the classroom or homeschool? Absolutely! This post shows you effective and fun ideas to teach place value to 3rd-graders. Each idea is easy to implement and can be used for in-class or distance learning.
PLUS you can grab a FREE place value activity at the end of this post.
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How Do You Make Place Value Fun?
Place value is not an easy concept to grasp! The abstract representation of numbers can make math frustrating.
So how in the world can teachers present this topic without boring students to tears?
Well here are some general ideas to jazz up your place value lessons for third graders:
- Use lots of visuals! Since the value of each digit depends on its position, students really need to SEE the numbers in more visual forms in order to understand it.
- Incorporate music and movement with your place value lessons. Whether you are teaching virtually or in the classroom, research shows how powerful music and movement are in keeping students engaged.
- Allow students to use manipulatives when learning place value. In addition to music, hands-on learning is also a wonderful way to get students more involved in the lesson. This is no exception when it comes to making place value fun.
Now that we’ve looked at overall ways to spice up your math lessons, let’s dig even deeper into fun ideas to teach place value to in 3rd grade.
Solve Math Riddles that Incorporate Mental Math
The first fresh idea on the list involves solving riddles! Once you’ve shown the visuals and used hands-on manipulatives, you can challenge your 3rd graders to crack place value riddles.
These place value riddles can be combined with hundreds-charts to give students practice with:
- mental math
- expanded form and word form of numbers
- reading and writing numbers within 1,000
- skip counting by 5s, 10s, 100s within 1,000
Not only does the riddle format keep kids intrigued to find the answer, but they also have QR Codes attached that makes it super quick and easy to check for the answer.
You can increase the fun factor even more by giving students magnifying glasses or other accessories that make them feel like detectives solving a mystery case!
It’s a win-win place value activity whether you’re using them as a math center idea in the classroom or as a digital activity for remote learning.
Sing Songs that Teach Place Value to 3rd Graders
Remember when I talked about using music and movement! Well, I’m saying it again. 🤗
A very fun way to teach place value to 3rd grade is through rap songs, School House Rock tunes, and other engaging place value songs that students can sing along too!
This video is just one example. There are several more songs related to place value than this on YouTube.
Please don’t think that third graders are too old for singing in class. The repetition teaches them important nuggets about place value that sticks in their minds even after the song is played.
Plus, students appreciate having a way to learn place value through something other than a worksheet!
Play a Review Game Using Plickers
The third easy and fun way to practice place value with your 3rd grade students is to use the FREE online tool Plickers for review and exit tickets.
I love how easy it is to use Plickers in the classroom, and how versatile they are for just about any math lesson.
If you don’t know what Plickers are, I have detailed posts on what they are, how to use them in your classroom, and how NOT to use them!
For your place value lessons, you can display images and place value charts on your classroom’s projector display. Students will participate in the lesson by holding up their Plicker to each question.
I recommend laminating your Plickers and glueing them to large popsicle sticks, which will make them much easier to spray or wipe down for sanitation.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Complete a Place Value “I Spy” Game
Another fun way to teach place value to 3rd grade is to play a place value “I Spy” game!
This activity works in the classroom or at home through distance learning.
In order to connect it with the traditional “I Spy” game, you could begin each statement or question with “I Spy with my little eye…”
Then present students with challenges to find such as:
- A 3-digit number with 8 in the tens place
- Numbers that have 6 ones
- 4 hundreds are in this number
Your students can use magazines, books, posters around the classroom, things at home to find numbers that match what you are challenging them to “spy.”
This type of place value activity keeps students engaged because it’s exciting. Plus it gets them involved with critical thinking while learning math.
Read Place Value Themed Books
Storytelling is powerful!
Don’t assume that math and reading can’t compliment one another. In fact, I LOVE using math read-alouds as lesson hooks or warm-ups to introduce concepts.
One of my favorite place value picture books is A Place for Zero by Angeline Sparagna LoPresti.
This adorable story follows the character Zero around a town called Digitaria. He wants to fit in with the other numbers and play a game called Addeum.
Not only does it help students understand place value, but this books also makes a really good introduction to multiplication.
Don’t just take my word for it! This Amazon reviewer called it a “Superb Explanation of Place Value and the Significance of Zero.”
What is the Easiest Way to Teach Place Value?
What makes teaching place value to 3rd graders hard? There’s no “one-size-fits-all-lesson” that resonates with every single student at the same time!
However, with this math concept, visuals are your best friend!
Upper elementary students need lots of help SEEING what the numbers represent. The easiest way to teach place value is with models that help student see number representation.
Place value charts with base ten models are my favorite.
They allow students to build concrete examples of the numbers. When teaching place value, I have students build several examples before we ever write anything.
Lots of visuals with lots of practice helps students BIG time.
Plus, hands-on learning keeps students engaged. AND there’s no copying or grading you need to complete for this math activity.
I have several recommendations of place value sets–along with other math goodies–in my Amazon storefront here in the list “Math Accessories and Supplies.”
More Engaging Ways to Teach Place Value to Upper Elementary
Although the ideas shared above are geared towards 3rd graders, they can also help 4th and 5th graders.
In fact, I like to add an extra twist to certain place value activities for older kids. For example, using SCOOT game boards with place value task cards is a great way to keep students engaged and moving while learning.
Not only that, but playing place value SCOOT can be a fun way to review difficult concepts with your students.
Just in case you’re not familiar with SCOOT, here’s the quick explanation:
- Put one task card on each desk.
- Give every student a SCOOT page and tell them to complete the task card on their desk first.
- Then students will rotate from desk to desk–leaving each task card, but taking their SCOOT page with them.
Once they’ve finished each task card, you can go over the correct answers as a whole class.
As you can see from the example image above, SCOOT works very well with place value models using images of base ten blocks.
Another FUN Way to Review Place Value with Your Students
In addition to SCOOT games, I also recommend place value color-by-number worksheets.
Now before you think that coloring isn’t rigorous enough for upper elementary students, let me explain.
Students can work with a partner to solve different place value problems. Then based on their correct answers, they will have the “code” or number to complete the coloring sheet.
It’s a win-win because not only is it fun for the kids to complete, but you don’t have to spend a lot of time grading these. Students must get the correct answer to color the sheet anyway, so one quick glance will let you know whether an answer is correct or not.
FREE Place Value Learning Activity
Now that you have some fresh ideas on how to teach place value to 3rd graders, you can grab some freebies to use in your classroom.
This place value freebie teaches students more about important vocabulary such as:
- digits
- place value chart
- standard form
- expanded form
- word form
- greater than
- less than
- equal to
- place value
Not only will this strengthen your students’ understanding of place value in general, but it’s also fun!
In addition to this freebie, I have more posts with helpful tips for you teacher friend:
- Teaching Multiplication Through Distance Learning
- 3rd Grade Literacy Center Ideas
- The BEST Math Read Alouds Books Ever
Happy Place Value Teaching 🦋
