Place Value Games for Kids

What Is Place Value?

Place value, as the name itself suggests, is the value of a digit based on its position within a number. Place value is a fundamental concept in mathematics. 

Each digit holds a different place value, which is determined by its position relative to the decimal point. So, two same digits in different positions within a number have different place values. For example, in the number 212, the place value of the rightmost digit 2 is 2, whereas the place value of the leftmost digit 2 is 200.

The rightmost digit represents the ones place (units place), followed by tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on, as you move left. Each place value is ten times greater than the one to its right. Each digit's place value contributes to the overall value of the number.

What Is the Place Value Chart?

A place value chart is a visual representation of place values of digits within a number. It consists of columns representing different place values, such as ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. Each column is labeled with the corresponding place value. 

In the International place value system, we have three periods: ones, thousands, and millions, for the nine places from right to left. Each period contains three places. 

Note: Each place-value is 10 times the place-value to its immediate right.

What Is the Place Value Chart for Decimals?

If a decimal number has two parts — a whole number part and a fractional part, separated by the decimal point. So, the place value chart of decimals has some extra columns to accommodate the places after the decimal point.

The first section before the decimal point denotes the whole number part, and the section after the decimal point denotes the fractional or decimal part. 

Note: Here, the place value of the hundredths place is \(\frac{1}{10}\) times the place value of the tenths place, the place value of the thousandths place is \(\frac{1}{10}\) times the place value of the  hundredths place, and so on.

Sharpen your place value skills with these super-amazing Place Value Chart Games!

How To Find Place Values

The place value chart makes it easy to find the place values of a number. The digits of a number are written in the appropriate column, indicating their value based on their position. The chart helps in understanding the magnitude of numbers.

To understand how to calculate place values, we have to understand the pattern followed by the different place values in the place value chart.

Place Values for the Whole Number Part

• Ones/ Units place: It represents the first digit from the right or the rightmost digit. To find the place value of the digit at the “ones” place, multiply the digit with 1.
• Tens place: It is the second digit from the right. The digit at the “tens” place denotes the number of “tens” in any number. To find the place value, multiply the digit at the tens place by 10.
• Hundreds place: It is the third digit from the right. The digit at the “hundreds” place denotes the number of “hundreds” in any number. By multiplying the digit with 100, the place value is determined.

Similarly, as you move further to the left, each place value is 10 times bigger than the place value to its immediate right.

Example: 375 = three hundreds, seven tens, and five ones

Place value of 3 = 300

Place value of 7 = 70

Place value of 5 = 5

Here are some more examples of place values in whole numbers:

Place Values for the Decimal Number Part

• Tenths place: It is the first place to the right of the decimal point. To find the place value of a digit at the tenths place, multiply the digit with \(\frac{1}{10}\).
• Hundredths place: It is the second place to the right of the decimal point. To find the place value of a digit at the hundredths place, multiply the digit with \(\frac{1}{100}\).
• Thousandths place: It is the third place to the right of the decimal point. To find the place value of a digit at the thousandths place, multiply the digit with \(\frac{1}{1000}\).

Similarly, as you move further to the right, each place value is \(\frac{1}{10}\) times bigger than the place value to its immediate left.

Example: Let’s write all the digits of the decimal number 123.456 and their respective place values in the place value chart.

Thus, 123.456 =  100 + 20 + 3 + 0.4 + 0.05 + 0.006

Looking for a simple and fun place value game for kids for better understanding and interactive learning? Visit Identify Place Values Games and make your place value concepts stronger!

What Is the Expanded Form of Numbers?

Expanded form is a way of representing a number by breaking it down into the sum of its individual place values. Each digit in the number is written separately, multiplied by its corresponding place value, and then summed together. 

Examples: 

i) 436 = 400 + 30 + 6

ii) 99.64 = 90 +9+0.6+0.04

This representation emphasizes the value of each digit in relation to its place within the number. Expanded form is a useful tool for understanding the composition of numbers and can aid in various mathematical operations such as addition and subtraction.

Explore more about the expanded form of number through these simple yet engaging Expanded Form Games for kids. 

Playful Learning: Hands-on Tools for Teaching Place Values

1. Counters

Counters are colorful discs with markings that help build upon the basic counting skills learned in kindergarten. These discs, representing unit ones, tens, and hundreds, are used to decompose a number according to its place value, visually representing each digit.

For example, the number 8, 46 and 372 using counters are represented as:

2. Base-ten blocks (base-10 blocks)

Similar to counters, base-10 blocks provide an effective and easy-to-understand introduction to the place-value system. Beginning with the unit block representing "1," these blocks are designed as "tens" and "hundreds" to visually demonstrate the concept of place value.

Example: Observe the given image of different base-10 blocks.

Each orange block represents thousands.

Each green block represents hundreds.

Each blue block represents tens.

Each pink block represents ones.

Do not forget to check out this Identify the Number from Base-10 Blocks Game! 

How Place Value Games Boost Kids' Math Skills

• Place values provide a systematic way to represent numbers which helps to perform mathematical operations accurately. 
• Place values help compare numbers by examining the digits in corresponding positions, enabling comparisons of greater or lesser values.

The learning of place-value concepts is spanned across the curriculum of preschool math activities. Here is a chart summarizing how the different math concepts across grades are aligned with the place value games offered at SplashLearn:

Advantages of Choosing Place Value Games over Traditional Methods

• Active Learning: Place value games promote active student engagement, allowing hands-on participation and fostering deeper understanding compared to passive learning in traditional methods. 
• Conceptual Grasp: Online place value games provide visual and concrete representations, aiding students in comprehending place value concepts more effectively than traditional instructional approaches.
• Motivation and Enjoyment: Place value games incorporate elements of fun and competition, motivating students to practice math skills and develop a positive attitude towards the subject, which may not be as readily achieved through traditional methods.
• Real-World Application: Place value games offer opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in practical contexts, making the learning experience more meaningful and relevant, unlike some traditional methods that may lack real-world connections.

What Are the 5 Best Place Value Games and Activities Online?

Here’s a list of some of the best Place Value Games and Activities:

1. Build a Number using Hundreds, Tens, and Ones Game
2. Count by Tens and Ones Game 
3. Round to the Nearest Number Game
4. Round off Numbers using Number Line Game
5. Guess the Number from Place Values Game